The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-02

dition, combine with the highest merits Of art and
taste. such learned and minuteaccuracy as to see
nerv. costume, architecture and antiquity, as 10
make them perpetual and most instructive COM
mentary upon the Poets text It is now proposed
to embody in an AMERICAN EDITION, the admi.
rable llustrations ofboth these editions engraved
with equal excellence Of mechanical execution, to
add 10 these other engravings from eminent artists
as Reynolds, Fuseli, S. Newton, &C., and to ac-
company them with abeautifully printed and COR
But the publisher anxious that his country should
pay some part Of the homage due from her to the
greatest OF Poets, 10 one who belongs not solely
to England, but to all M fg@1
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
Could not content himself with mere republica-
ton or compilation. He has therefore prevailed
upon ROBERT w. Weir, whose reputation as an
Artist is already identified with his country's hiso-
nv. to contribute series Of Oriental Designs, to-
geher with such advice and assistance in other de-
tails fart, his taste may suggest tor the illusra
ton and establishment Of this publication. From
the same reason, the publisher instead oireprlnung
the text and commentary of any popular English
impression, was desirous that bis Edition should
have the supervision Of an American Editor This
task has been undertaken by GULIAN c YER
PLANCK.
The plan proposed to himself by the Editor is to
furnish the reader with carefully prepared and ac-
curately printed text unencumbered by any notesor
comments upon the page itself; as however useful
they may be elsewhere, they are too apt to divert
tbe mind from the power Of the Poets thought, and
to disturb the magic of his scene. Such notes as
NAV be thought useful for the explanation or crti-
csm of the text, will be put into an Appendix to
each play.
The text of Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which hadnever
passed under the authors own eye, was conse-
quenty dis6gured by many errors and absurdltles.
It passed during the last century through success
sion of varying editions, until the revision OF Ste
vens and Malone, whose text, (or rather that Of
Steyens) has become the standard from which most
of the English and American editions have been
printed, with various degrees of accuracy.-But
within the last twenty years, more minute and fa-
miliar acquaintance with old English idoms, hab-
its and modes of thought guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeare's
genius, has led to the strong conviction that very
many of the numerous though slight deviations
from the ancient text, appearing in modern editions,
are useless or erroneous interpretations, sometimes
weakening the sense, and often substituting an ar
brary monotonous, metrical regularity, to the Po-
cts own native melody. Accordingly, very many
of these emendations have been rejected by the last
and best English editors especially Mr.. Knight and
Mr. Collier, and the readings of the old folios and
QuartOS nave Deen TeetOTtu, unlesS WueIc eOmt tT-
ror of the press or manuscript undeniably mar
ifest. Yet there are many such passages confes-
sedly corrupt, requiring conjectural emendations;
there are also difference of reading between the
several old impressions afording grounds for some
diversity of text and warm controversy, between
the more recent editors.
Upon these, the American editor thinks il due to
the character of this edition, to decide himself,
without implicitly following the text of any one
modern edition. As the industry and learning of
prer editors have furnished the collation. various
readings, and the authorities upon which they may
be supported the task is no longer that ofaborious
investigation, but, it were, of judicial decision,
enlightened by contending argument
As many of these variations are of nearly equal
probability, and as some ofthem are doubtless the
authors own alterations at different periods, all the
more important readings will be presented to the
reader in the notes. for his selection. Those notes
will also contain so much Of commentary as may be
useful to explain antquated words and phrases, OBJ
scurey expressed passages and illusions to obsolete
opinions or the habits or history of the times; the
whole in as condensed form as practicable. But
any commentary upon Shakespeare, however brief.
would be imperfect Tit did not present some view
of the higher criticism employed not on the inter-
probation Of his language, but upon his thoughts,
his character, his poetry passions, philosophy The
only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the
the magnificent variety of the materials contributed
during the last half century, by the most brilliant
minds OF Europe. Still il is believed that this duty
can be satisfactorily performed, without swelling
the edition to an nconvenient bulk.
H. w. HEWETT, Publisher,
2Sl Broadway, New York.