The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-08-28
who speak the tongue


could not content hiniserwh mere republication or
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon r. w.
WEIR whose reputation Artist is already identi-
fed with his counuys history, to contribute series of
original designs, together with such advice and assis-
tance in other details Of art his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment of this publications
From the SAME the publisher instead orepintng
the text and commentary of any popular English i'm
preston, dcsrous that his edition should have the
supervision otan American editor. This task has been
undertaken, by GUILAN C. VERPLANCK.
The plan proposed himselfby the editor is to fur
nish the reader with carefully prepared and accurate
lly printed text unencumbered by any notes
mens upon the page itself as howeVerusef they may
be elsewhere, they too apt divert the mind from
the power Of the Poets thought and to disturb the
gic ofhis scene. Such notes may be thought nseul
for the explanation criticism Of the texsw be
thrown into an Appendix to each play.
| The text Of Shakspeares dramatic works. drawn
from old printed copies in his age which had never pas
sed under the authors eye, consequently dis
figured by many errors and obscuries 1t passed du-
ring the last century through succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone whose
text Cor rather that Stevens) has become the
dard from which most of the English and American
dtons have been printed, with various degrees of ac-
curacy But within the last twenty years. more NIL
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idioms
habits and modes of thought guided by intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeare's ge
MUS has led TO the strong conviction that very many OF
the though slight deyiations from the ancient
text appearing IN modern eul0nS, are useless or ero-
neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting arbitrary monotonous metTical
regularity for rthe Poets native melody. Accord
ingy very many Of these examinations have been reec
ted by the last and best English editors especially Mr.
Knight and Mr. Collier and the readings Of the old TO-
ios and quaros have been resored unless where
ofthe press manuscriptwas undeniably mani
fest. Yet there many such passages confessedly
corrupt and requiring conjectural emendation; there
are also differences Of reading between the several old
impressions, aording grounds orsome diversity Of text
and warm controversy between the recent editors.
Upon these, the American editor thinks it due to the
character of the edition. to decide for himself without
implicitly following the text of any modern edition.
AS the industry and learning of prior editors have fur
nished the collation. fvarous readings and the auhori-
ties upon which they may be supported the task is
longer that ofaborous investigation, but as it were
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument
AS many of these variations ofnearly equal prob
ability and of them doubtless the authors
own alterations different periods all the impor
ant readings will be presented thereaGern
for his selection. Those notes will also contain SO
much documentary as may be useful to explain anti
quaed words and phrases obscurey expressed passages
and illusions to obsolete opinions the habits or his
tory of the times; the whole in as condensed form as
practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare,
however brief would be imperfect If ii did not present
some view of the higher criticism employed not the
Interpretation of his language but upon his thoughts,
his character his poetry, passions, philosophy, The
only difficulty here arises from the abundance the mag
nifcent variety, of the materials contributed during the
last half century by the most brilliant minds of Europe
Still it is believed that this duty be satisfactorily
performed without swelling the edition to inconve
nient bulk
j H. w. HEWET. Publisher.
! 28l Broadway, New York.