The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-07-19

dtion, combine with the highest merits Of art and
taste such learned and minute accuracy as TO see
merry, costume, architecture and antiquity, as to
make them perpetual and most instructive COM
mentary upon the Poets text. II il now proposed
to embody in an AMERICAN EDITION, the admi-
rabe 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, SC, and to ac-
company them with beautifully printed and cor.
rect text gttsg 10
But the publisher anxious that his country should
pay some part Of the homage due from her to the
greatest of Poets, as 10 one who belongs not solely
to England, but to all n
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
Could not content himselfwith a mere republica-
ton or compilation. He has therefore prevailed
upon RoBERT w. WEIR, whose reputation as an
Artist is already identified with his country histo-
ry, to contribute series of Oriental Designs, to-
gether with such advice and assistance in other de-
tails ofart as his taste may suggest for the iilusra
ton and establishment of this publication From
the reason, the publisher, instead ofreprinting
the text and commentary of any popular English
impression, was desrous that his Edition should
have the supervision of an American Editor. This
task has been undertaken by GULIAN C. YER
PLANCK
Theplan proposed to himself by the Editor is to
furnish the reader with carefully prepared and ac-
curately printed text, ,unencumbered by anynoes 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
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-
quently disfgured by many errors and absurdities.
It passed during the last century through success
sion of varying editions, until the revision of Ste
veDs and Malone, whose text, Cor 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 fa-
miliar acquaintance with old English idioms, 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
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 folos and
ror OF the press or manuscript was undenably man.
ifest Yet there are many such passages confess
sedly corrupt, requiring conjectural emendations;
there are also difference of reading between the
several old impressions afording grounds for some
diversity oftext 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
prier editors have furnished the collation. ofvarous
readings, and the authorities upon which they may
be supported the task is no longer that oflaboroIs
investigation, but, as it were, of judicial decision,
enlightened by contending argument.
AS many ofthese variations are of nearly equal
probability, and as some of them 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 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-
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 tits believed that this duty
the edition to an inconvenient bulk.
H. w. HEWETT, Publisher,
PSI Broadway, New York.