The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-11-06
WHO speak the tongue

could not content himself with q mere republication OF
compilation. lie has therefore prevailed upon X. w.
WEIR, whose reputation as an Artist is already identl-
fed with his c~cuntry's history, to contribute a ser1esor
Original designs, together with such ADVICE and assls-
lance in other details ofart as his taste may suggest Tor
the illustration and establishment of this publication.
From the same reason the publisher, instead ofreprinting
the text and commentary Of any popular English i'm
nression, was desiIous that his edition should have the
supervision ofan American editor. This task has been
undertaken, by CUBAN @. VERPLANCK.
The plan proposed to himselfby the editor, is to fur
nieh the reader with q carefully prepared and accurate
ly printed text, unencunlbcred by any notes or com
ments upon the page ITSELF as however useful taey may
be elsewhere, tlcy are too apt to divert the mind from
the power of the Poets thought, andto disturb the ma
gc ofhis scene. Such notes as may be thought nseiul
for the explanation or criticism of the teXt,Wlll be
thrown into an Appendix to each play.
The text of Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which had never pas
sed under the author's own eye, was consequently dis
figured by many errors and obscurihes, 1t passed du=
f ring the last century through a succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text Tor rather that ofStevens) has become The STAN
dard from which most of the English and American G.
1 ditions have been printed, with various degrees oil ac-
:, curacy. But within the last twenty years, a more MI
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idioms
habits and modes OF thought, guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiration ior Shakspeale's Sc
MUS, has led to the strong conviction that very many OF
s the numerous though slight deViatlons from the ancient
: text appearing in modern editions, are useless or erro-
G neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting an arbitrary monotonous metrical
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord
= incIy 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
ia error ofthe press or manuscript was undeniaDly mani
fest. Yet there are many such passages coniessedly
corrupt, and requiring conjectural cancellations; there
are also differences of reading between the several old
Q impressions, aaording grounds forsome diversity OF text
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
G. implicitly following the text of any one modern edition.
ne As the industry and learning Of prior editors have tur-
nished the collation. ofvarious readings and the authorl-
ut ties upon which they may be supported, the task IS no
Longer that oflaborious investigation, but, as 1t were, oil
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument.
: AS many ofthese variations are 0 fnearly equal prob
er ability, and as some of them are doubtless the authors
own alterations at different periods, all the more lmpor.
tant readings will be presentedto the reacerin thenotet
2, for his own selection. Those notes will also contain SC
81 much documentary as may be useful to explain anti
auated words and phrases, obscurely expressed passages
= and illusions to obsolete opinions or the habits or ms
ty, tory Of the times; the whole in as condensed a form a
practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare
!. however brief, would be imperfect If it did not presen
- some view of the higher criticism employed, notion thu
." Interpretation of his language. but upon his thoughts
his character, his poetry, passions, philosophy. Th
. only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the mag
FIR nifoent variety, of the materials contributed during tn
last half century by the most brilliant minds Of Enrops
Still it is believed that this duty can be sat1si9olouI
performed without swelling the edition 70 an lnconyt
ats nient bulk.
j. H. w. HEWET, Publisher,
- 99l Broadway, New York.