The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-07-12

d,;on combine with the highest merits of art and
taste such learned and minute accuracy as 10 see
nery, costume, architecture and antiquity, as to
make them perpetual and most Instructive COM
mentary upon the Poets text 1t is now proposed
10 embody in an AMERICAN EDITION, the admi-
rable illustrations ofboth these editions, engraved
with equal excellence of mechanical execution, to
add to these other engravings from eminent artists,
as REYNOLDS, Fuseli, S. Newton, &C., and to ac-
company them with beautifully printed and cor
rect 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 belongs not solely
10 England, but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake, M
Could not content himself with mere republica-
tion or compilation He has therefore prevailed
upon ROBERT w. Weir, whose reputation as an
Artist is already identified with his country's histo-
ry to contribute series of Oriental Designs, to-
gether with such advice and assistance in other de-
tails art, ashis taste may suggest for the ilusra
ton and establishment of this publication. From
the same reason the publisher instead ofreprinting
the text and commentary of any popular English
impression, was desirous that his Edition should
have the supervision of an American Editor. This
task has been undertaken by GULIAN G. YER
PLANCK
The plan proposed to himself by the Editor Is to
curately printed text unencumbered by anynotes or
comments upon the page itself; as however useful
they may 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 explanation or criti-
cism of the text, will be put into an Appendix to
each play. trat
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-
uuenty disfgured by many errors and absurdities.
1t 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
Stevens) has becomet 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 IA
miliar acquaintance with old English idioms, hab-
its and modes of thought, guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeares
genius, has led to the strong conviction that very
many of the numerous though slight deviations
from the ancienttext, appearing In modern editions,
are useless or erroneous nteIpolations, sometimes
weakening the sense, and often substituting an ar
bitrary monotonous, metrica regularity, to the Po
cts own native melody Accordingly, very many
of these emendatons have been rejected by the last
and best English editors, especially Mr.. Knight and
Mr. Collier and the readings of the old folios and
uuartos have been restored, unless where some er-
ror of the press or manuscript was undenably man
| fest. Yet there are many such passages confess
sedy 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 it 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
prier editors have furnished the collation. ofvarous
readings, and the authorities upon which they may
be supported the task is no longer that ofaborious
investigation but, as il were, of judicial decision,
frightened by contending argument
AS many ofthese variations are Of nearly equal
probability, and as some ofthem are doubtless the
authors own alterations at Indifferent 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 antiquated words and phrases, OBJ
scurely expressed passages and illusions to obsolete
opinions, or the habits history of the times; the
whole in as condensed a form as practicable. But
any commentary upon Shakespeare, however brief.
would be imperfect il it did not present some view
of the higher criticism employed, not on the inter-
pretation ofhis language, but upon his thoughts,
his character, his poetry, passions, philosophy. The
only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the
the magnificent variety the materials contributed
during the last half century, by the most brilliant
minds of Europe. Still is believed that this duty
can be satisfactorily performed, without swelling
the edition to an inconvenent bulk.
H. w. HEWETT, Publisher,
2Sl Broadway, New York.