The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-10-09
WHO speak the tongue

could. not content himself with a mere republication or
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon X. w.
WEIR, whose reputation as an Artist is already identi-l
fed with has country's history, to contribute a series OF
original designs, together with such advice and assis-
lance in other details Of art as his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment of this publication.
From the SAINT reason the publisher, instead ofrcprintng
the text and commentary of any popular English in
preston, was DESTROYS that his edition should have the
supei vision ofan American editor. This task has been
undertaken, by GulLAN c. NERPLANCk.
The plan proposed 70 h~imselfby the editor, is to fur
nish the reader with a carefully prepared and accurate
ly printed text, unenCumbGIed by any notes or COM
ments upon tho page itself; MS however useful they may
be elsewhere, they are too apt to divert the mind from
the power of the Poets thought, andt to disturb the ma
gic ofhis scene. Such notes as may be thought nsetul
for the explanation or criticism OF the teXt,wil be
thrown into an Appendix to each play.
The text of Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
rom old printed copicsi in his age, which had never pas
Fed under the authors own eye, was consequently dis
fghs ell by many errors and obsculiGes. 1t passed du-
ring the last century through a succession of varying
editions untdthe revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text Cor rather that ofStevens) has become the stan
dard from which most of the English and American G.
pitions have been printed, with various degrees OF 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 for ShakspeaIe's &C.
Mus. 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 eTo-
neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting an arbitrary monotonousm etrical
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord
iugiy very manyof these examinations have been reieC-
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
error ofthe press or manuscript was undeniably mani
fest. Yet there are many such passages conessediy
corrupt, and requiring conjecturNl emendation; there
are also differences of reading between the several old
impressions, afording grounds for some diversity of tex
anti war--fontroversy between the more recent editors
Upon these. the American editor thinks il due to the
r character of this edition. TO decide for himself without
implicitly following the text of any one modern edition
AZ the industry and learning of prior editors hive fur
nished the collatiun ofvarious readings and the authori
ties upon which they may be supported, the task is NJ
longer that oil laborious investigation, but, as It were, 0
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument
AS many ofthese variations are ofnearly equal prob
ability, and as some of them are doubtless the author
own alterations at different periods, all the more impor
tant readings win be presented to thereaGerin thenoto
FOR his own selection. Those notes will also contain g
much documentary Ms may be useful TO explain anti
qnated words and phrases, obscurely expressed passage
and illusions to obsolete opinions or the habits or his
tory ef the times; the whole IN as condemned a form a
practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare
however brief, would be imperfect if il did not preser
some view of the higher criticism employed, motor III
Interpretation Of his language. but upon his thoughts
his character, his poetry. passions, philosophy. Th
only difficulty hero arises from the abundance, the mag
ni6cent variety, ofthe materials contributed during ii
last halfcentury BY the most brilliant minds Of Europe
Still It il believed that this duty can be SATISFACTORY
performed without swelling the edition to an inconvS
II. w. HEwET, Publisher,
2sl Broadway, New York.