The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-11-15
A NEW ERA OF
SHAKESPEARE IN AMERICA!
The Cheapest and most spiendidiy Illuminated
81. and Illustrated Edition Of NE Bard 4,
~ of .fu0n, eper published. 20 ts'

OF .dOON, eDtT puOftSNeU.
ss w Ediicdby the b 9cre Ta
HON. GULLaN c. PERPLd.NCK
ROBERT w. WEIR, Esq will design, select,
and arrange the illustrations, Of which there willbe
about I4OO, executed on wood, in the very best
style of the modern school of that art.
In submitting the Prospectus of the Editor to the
public, the Publisher has only to add that he will
spare neither expense nor pains to make TINS edition
of the Worlds Poet, superior TO any that has here
tofore appeared-in illustrations, typography and
paper. The form will be royal octave, and will be
issued in weekly parts, price IL and half cents,
which places it within the means OF persons OF the
most limited fortunes, whilst on account ofits pecu-
liar beauty it will gain itself admission into the IL
braries of the rch and there prove to be one OF the
choicest ornaments.
Those who wish this work in the most perfect
state, will only be Of il by taking the parts as
they appear, which will contain the early proofs Of
the Engravings.
The Tragedy of Hamlet is now in press.-The
first part will be issued in March.
PROSPECTUS. Ed
The PICTORIAL and ILLUSTRATED Editions OF
SHAKESPEARE, lately published in England, are
amongst the most beautiful specimens ofthe recent
and remarkable improvement of the art OF Wood
Engraving, which by combining great excellence
of execution with economy OF price, has given an
Unprecedented diffusion to the most useful as well
as the most exquisite productions of the Arts of
Design a.
The designs of KENNY MEADOWS for the illus
trations of Tyas edition of Shakespeare, express the
character of the several personages and the spirit
of the scene, with wonderful truth and power;
whilst the wood engraving of Knights Pictorial e.
dition, combine with the highest merits of art and
TASTE such learned and minuteaccuracy as 10 see
merry, costume, architecture and antiquity, SC as
make them perpetual and most instructive COM
mentary upon the Poets text Ii is now proposed
10 embody in an AMERICAN EDITION, the adm-
rable illustrations of both 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 will. 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, to one who belongs not solely
10 England, but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
Could not content himself with mere republlca-
ton or compilation He has therefore prevailed
upon RoDERr 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 ofart as bis taste may suggest, for the ustra-
ton and embellishments of this publication. From
the same reason the publisher, instead ofreprintng
the text and commentary of any popular English
impression, was desirous that his Edition should
have the superv vison of AN American Editor. This
task has been undertlken by GULlAN e. 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 anynotes or
comments upon the page itself; as however useful
they may be where, they are too apt TO divert
the mHGirom the power Of the Poets thought, and
to disturb the magic Of his sceife. 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.
The test of Shakspeares dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which had never
passed under the authors own eye, was conse-
quently disGgurcd by many errors and absnrdities.
1t passed during the last century through success
sion Of varying editions, until the revision OF Ste
vens and Malone. whose text, Tor rather that of
Stevens 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 Ia
miIiar acquaintance with old English idioms, hab-
its and modes Of thought. guided by intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeare's
genus, 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 erroneous interpretations, sometimes
weakening the sense, aud often substituting an ar
bitrary moGotonous. metrical regularity to the Po-
cts own native melody. Accordingly, very many
of these enendatons have been rejected by the last
and best English editors, especially Mr.. Knight and
Mr. Collier, aud the readngs Of the old folios and
quartos have been restored, unless where some er-
ror of the press or manuscript was undenably man
ifest. Yet there are many such passages confess
sedIy corrupt, requiring conjectural emendations;
there are also difference Of reading between the
several old impressions aiIordimg 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, 10 decide himself,
without implicitly following the text of any one
modern edition As the industry and learning OF
prior editors have furnished the collation. ofyarious
readings, and the authorities upon which they may
be supported the task is no longer that oflaborlous
investigations but, as it were Of judicial decision,
by contending argument.
As many of these variations are OF nearly equal
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 maybe
useful to explain antiquaed words and phrases, OBJ
scurely 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 il it did not present some view
of the higher criticism employed, not on the inter.
pretation 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 hat this duty
ran be satisfactorily performed, without swelling
the edition TO an inconvenient bulk.
ii. w. HEWETT, Publisher,