Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-07-11
A CIV kEra Ct Shakespeare i America.

Edited BY the HON. GULk7JN
c. TERPL.)4.NCK.
RoBT w. WEIR, Esq will design. Sc.
lsct. and arrange the illustrations. Of which
there viii be about 400. executed on wood.
in the vesv best style of the modern school Of
that art
In submitting the Prospectus of the Editor
10 the public, the Publisher has only to add
that lie viii spare neither expense nor pains
10 make this edition of the Worlds Poet, su
perior to any that has heretofore appeared
IN illustrations. Typography and PAPER The
form will be royal octave. anti-will be issued
III Weekly parts, price 1et cents, which pla-
ces it within the means of persons of the
most limited fortunes, whilst on account of
It's pecuH II beauty it will gain itself adms-
son into the Libraries of the rich, and there
prove to be one Of the choicest ornaments.
! Those who wish this work in tia most per.
feet state, will only be sire of It by taking
!! the parts a, they appear. which will contain
the early proofs of the Engravings.
| The Tragedy Of Hamlet is now in press
| The first part was issued in March
PA0SPEcT[&.
! The PicT0RiAL and iLlusTHATED Editions
of sHAKsPEARE. lately published in England.
are amongst the most beautiful specimens Of
the recent ard remarkable Improvement of
the art of Wood Engraving, which By combi-
ning great excellence of execution with econ>
| omy Of price, has given an unprecedented
diffusion to the most useful as well as the most
exquisite productions of the Arts of Design
The designs of KENNY MEADOWS for the H.
luatration Of 1yas' edition of Shakespeare, ex
press the character Of he several personages
and the spirit of the scene, with wonderful
trufi mud rnw uh,lcf thu upnr1
of Knights Pictorial edition, combine with the
highest merits of art and taste, such learned
and minute accuracy as to scenery, costume,
architecture and antiquity, as to make them
perpetual and most instructive commentary
upon the Poets text. 1t is now proposed TO
embody in an AMERICAN EDITION, the atlini-
rable illustrations of both these editions, en-
graved with equal excellence of mechanical
execution, TO adp to these, other engravngs
from eminent artists, as Reynolds, Fuseli. 8.
Newton. &C.. and to accompany tdem with
beautifully printed and correct text.
But the publisher. anxious that his country
should pay some part of the homage due from
her to the greatest of Poets, as To one who be
longs not solely to England. but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
Could not content himself with mere repub-
licaticn or compilation. He has therefore
prevailed upon L. w. Wxn, whose reputa-
ton as an Artist is already identified with his
country's history, to contribute series of ORR
ginal Designs, together with s,lcI advice and
assistance in other details of art, as his taste
may suggest. for the illustration and enbel.
lishment Of this publication. From the same
reason. the publisher, instead Of reprinting
The text and commentary of any popular En-.
glish impression, was DESTROYS that his Edition
should have the supervision of AN American
Editor. This task has been undertaken By
GULfAN C. tERPLANCK.
The plan proposed 10 himself By the Edit.
or, IS to furnish the reader with carefully
and accurately printed text, unen-
numbered by any notes or comments upon
the page itself; as however useful they NAV
be elsewhere, they are too apt to divert the
mind from the power of the Poets thought
and to disturb the magic of his scene Such
notes as may be thought useful for the expla.
nation or criticism of the text, will be put in
to An Appendix 10 each play.
The text OF Shakspeare's dramatic works
drawn from old printed copies in his age,
winch had never passed Under the authors
own eye, was consequently tlisfgured by ma
ny errors and absurdities. 1t passed during
N'S ''''e SS.euiy succession or vary
ing editions until the revision of Stevens and
Malone. whose text. Tor rather that of Ste.
vens.) has become the standard from which
most Of the English and American editions
have been printed. with various degrees of
aceilracy. But within the last twenty wears. a
more minute and familiar acquaintance with
old English idioms, habits and modes of tbo's.
guided by an intense and constantly increat.
ing admiration for Shakspeare's genius, has
led to the strong conviction that very many of
the Numerous though slight devations from
the ancient text, appearing i'll modern editions.
are useless or erroneous interpretations some
tunes weakening the sense, and often substi
tufng an arbitrary monotonous, metrical repu.
larity, to the Poets own native melody Acl
cordlngly. very many Of these emendations
nave been rejected by the last and best Fin.
glish editors, especially Mr.. Knight and Mr..
Collier, and the readings of The old folios and
quaftos have been restored. unless where
some error OF the press or manuscript was IN.
deniabiy manifest. Yet there are MANY sucb
passages confessedly corrupt, and recurring
conJecturaI ernendations: there are also n;f
ferences Of reading betMeen the several old
impressions affordng grounds for some diver
SHY OF text and warm controversy. between
the more recent editors
OPo't 'nese, Tue American editor thinks it
due TO the character Of this edition, to decide
Tor himself. without implicitly following the
text OF aoy one modern edition. As the in.
dustry and learning Of prior editors have fur
nished the collation. Of various readings, and
the authorities upon which they NAV be SIM.
ported. the task is no longer that Of Iaborious
investigation, but as it were. of judicial de.
cisio'I, enlightened by contending argument.
As many OF these variations are of nearly
equal probability, and as some of them are
doubtless the authors own alterations At az.
ferent periods, all the more important read
ngs viii be presented to the reader in the
notes, for his selection. Those notes will Al.
SO contain SO much Of commentary as may be
useful to explain antiquated words and phra.
ses, obscurely expressed passages, and allu.
Sums 10 obsolete opinions of 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 II It did not present some view Of
tie higher Criticism EMPLOYED. moi IN the n.