The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-11-13
sneak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,

J.
That Shakespeare spake,
could not content himself with a mere republication OF
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon H.. WI
WEIR, whose reputation as an Artist is already fientI-
fed with his country's history, to contribute a series or
loriginal designs, together with such advice and assis-
lance in Other details ofart as his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment Of this publication.
From the sane reason the publisher, Instead olrepnntIng
the text and commentary Of any popular English i'm
preston, was DESTROYS that his edition should have the
supervision ofan American editor. This task has been
undertaken, by GUILAN G. ~VERPLANCK.
The plan proposed to h~imselfby the editor, is to fur
nish the reader with a carefully prepared and accurlte-
ly printed text, u~ncncumbered by any notes or com
ments upon the page itself; as however useful they may
be elsewhere, they are too apt TO divert the mind tronl
the power Of the Poets thought, and to disturb the ma
gic ofhis scene. Such notes as may be thoughtnselul
for the explanation or criticism of the toAt,wlll be
thrown into an Appendix to each play,
The text OF Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
Ifromold printed copies in his age, which had never pas
srd under the authors own eye, was consequently DIS
figured by many errors and obscuritcs. 1t passed du-
ring the last century through a succession Of varying
editions until the revision Of Stevens and Malone, whose
text Tor rather that of Stcyens) has become the STAN
dard from which most of the English and American G.
ditions have been printed, with various degrees Of acl-
curacy. Bnt within the last twenty years, a more mi
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idons
habits and modes of thought, guided by an intense and
constantlY Increasing admiration for Shakspeaie's Sc
MUS, has led to the strong conviction that very many Of
the numerous though slight deyiations from the ancient
text appearing in modern editions, ne useless or GRO
neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting an arbitrary mOmotonous metrical
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord
ingly very many Of these emandations have been relec-
ted BY the last and best English editors, especially Mr.
Knight and Mr.. Collier, and the readings Of the old TO
los and quartos have been restored, unless where some
error ofthe press or manuscrip pit was undcriably mann
fest. Yet there are many such passages coniessedly
Corrupt, and requiring conJectural cmendation thei,t
ARE also differences Of reading between the several ole
! impressions, affording grounds for some diversity Of tex
and warm controversy between the more recent editors
Upon these, the American editor thinks it due to the
character of this edition, TO decide for himself without
implicitly following the text Of any one modern EDITION
AS the industry and learning Of prior editols have tnr
Inished the collation. ofVarious readings and the authori
tics upon which they may be supported, the task is M
longer that oflaborious investigation, but, as il were, o
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument
As many ofthese variations are ofnearly equal prob
ability, and as some of them are doubtless the author
own alterations at different periods, all the more lmpor
liant readings will be preseutedto the reader in the note
for his own selection. Those notes viii also contain S
much documentary MS may be useful to explain ant
quated words and phrases, dbscurely expressed passage
and illusions to obsolete opinions or the habits or his
tory Of the tines; the whole in as condensed a form a
4 practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare
u however brief, would be imperfect if il did not preseI
some view of the higher criticism employed, note on tn
Interpretation of his language. but upon his thoughts
his character, his poetry, passions, philosophy, ID
only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the mas
%nifcent variety of the materials contributed during tn
. last half century by the most brilliant minds OF Europ
Still it is believed that this duty can be satisfactoril
performed without swelling the edition to an inconyt
nient bulk.
II. w. HEWET, Publisher,
281 Broadway, New York.