2. 173. princesses. See Mr Sidney Walker’s Shakespeare’s Versification, p. 243 sqq. ’The plurals of substantives ending in s, in certain instances, in se, ss, ce, and sometimes ge, ... are found without the usual addition of s or es, in pronunciation at least, although in many instances the plural affix is added in printing, where the metre shows that it is not to be pronounced.’ In this and other instances, we have thought it better to trust to the ear of the reader for the rhythm than to introduce an innovation in orthography which might perplex him as to the sense. The form ‘princesses,’ the use of which in Shakespeare’s time was doubted by one of our correspondents, is found in the History of King Leir. Rowe’s reading ‘princes’ might be defended on the ground that the sentiment is general, and applicable to royal children of both sexes; or that Sir Philip Sidney, in the first book of the Arcadia, calls Pamela and Philoclea ‘princes.’

Note Iii I Monologue from The Tempest

Rehearse Note Iii I's monologue