The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-09-11
WIZ 7I7VNN 1I'U WI JUG
That Shakespeare spake,


could content himself with mere republication or
compilation. lie has Therefore prevailed upon r. w
WEIR, whose reputation Artist is already ideni-
fed with his couny's history, to contribute series OF
original designs together with such advice and assis
ance in other details Of art his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment of this publication
From the the publisher instead ofrepnting
the text and commentary Of any popular English i'm
pression desous that his edition should have the
supervision 0fan American editor. This task has been
Iimdertaken, by GUILAN G. EERPhANCK.
The plan proposed to hinsellby the editor, is TO fur
nish the reader with carefully prepared and accurate
lly printed text, unencunlbefed by any notes com
lments upon the page itself; hoWove useful they may
Ihe elsewhere, they too apt to divert the mind from
the powerof the Poets thought and TO disturb the ma
lgic ohs scene. Such notes as may be thought nsefu
Tor the explanation or criticism of the textwill be
| thrown into an Appendix to each play,
The text Of Shallspeares dramatic works, drawn
Gom old printed copies in his age which had never pas
sed under the authors eye, consequently dis
figured by many and obsCurics. 1t passed du-
ring the last century through succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text (or rather that OF SteVens) has become the stan
Idard Eom which most Of the English and American
dions have been printed, with various degrees Of ac-
curacy But within the last twenty years, mi
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idioms
habits and modes of thought guided by intense and
constany increasing admiration for Shakspeares ge-
MUS has led to the strong conviction that very many OF
the though slight deviatons from the ancient
text appearing in modern editions, useless
neous interpolations sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting arbitrary monotonous metrical
regularity for the Poets native melody. Accord
ingy very many Of these emandatons have been eiec-
ted by the last and best English editors, especially Mr.
knight and Mr. Collier and the readings of the old TO-
os and quartos have been restored unless where some
error othe press manuscript was undeniaby mani
fest Yet there are many such passages confessedly
corrupt, and requiring conjectural emendation; there
also differences of reading between the several old
Impressions aording grounds for some diversity OF text
and controversy between the recent editors
Upon these, the American editor thinks it due to the
character Of this edition, 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. ofvarous readings and the author
ties upon which they may be supported the task is
longer that ofaborous investigations but it were,
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument
AS many ofthese variations ofnearly equal prob
liability and some Of them are doubtless the authors
own alterations at different periods all the mpor
tant readings will be presented to the in
for his own selection. Those notes will also contain "a
much documentary may be useful 10 explain anti
quaed words and phrases, obscurey expressed
nd aluons to obsolete opinions or the habits or bia
tory OF the times; the whole in as condensed f5rm No
Pracucable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare
however brie would beimperec If It did not present
some view OF the higher criticism employed not on thn
Interpretation OF his language but upon his thoughts!
Ns character his poetry passions, philosophy. The
only uleulty here arises from the abundance the mag
nfoent variety, g. the materials contributed during the
last half century by the mGst brilliant minds OF Europe
Still it is believed that this duty can be satisfactorily
performed without swelling the edition to an inconve-
nient bulk.
| H. w. HEWET, Publisher.
t 2Sl Broadway, New York. 3