SHAKESPEARE AND THE “ OXFORD DICTIONARY."
[TO THE EDITOR Off TAR " SPECTATOR."]
Sae,—In reply to the letter which appeared in your issue of September 23rd, there is no doubt that the Oxford Dictionary was quoting from the First Folio of 1623. It was, therefore, an error to give the date -as 1602. I have noticed a similar instance under the verb " Escot," where one of the examples reads : "1602 Shaks. Ham. 2. 2. 362—What are they Children ? Who maintains 'em ? How are they escoted ? " These words are not in either the First or Second Quartos at all, and it would seem that hero also the quotation has been taken from the First Folio. I suppose that the editors did not undertake to give all the variations which are found to exist, when the Quartos and Folios are compared. In some instances they have done so, however, as in the word " Alli-
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