The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-06-19
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,

could not content himselfwith mere republication or
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon X. w,
WEIR, whose reputation Artist is already identl-
fed with his countrys history to contribute series OF
original designs together with such advice and asss-
ance in oherd details of his taste may suggest for
the Illustration and establishment of this publication.
From the same reason the publisher instead otprntng
the text and commentary of any popular English i'm
preston, desirous that his edition should have the
supervision ofan American editor This task has been
undertaken, by GUiLAN c. VERPLANCK.
The plan proposed to himsefby the editor is to fur
nsh the reader with carefully prepared and accurate
ly printed text, unencumbcred by any notes or com
ncpts upon the page ITSELF 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 ma
gc ofhis scene. Such notes may be thought nsetu
for the explanation criticism of the teXt,WiH be
thrown into an Appendix to each play.
The text of Shakspeares dramatic works. drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which had never pas
sed under the authors eye, was consequently dis
figured by many errors and obscuities 1t passed du
ring the last century through succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text Cor rather that ofSleven) has become the STAN
dard from which most of the English and American G.
ditions have been printed with various degrees of ac-
curacy. But within the last twenty years. more MI
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idions
habits and modes of thought guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiraton for Shakspeales ge-
MUS has led to the strong conviction that very many of
text appearing in modern editions, useless or erro
neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting arbitrary monotonous metrcal
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord
ngy very many of these emandatons have been reec-
ted by the last and best English editors especially Mr.
Knight and MI Collier, and the readings of the Old TO-
ios and quartos have been restored unless where some
error ofthe press manuscript was undenably MANI
fest. Yet there are many such passages coniessediy
corrupt and requiring cunjectural emendation there
are also differences Of reading betwee the several old
Impressions aiordng grounds for some diversity OF text
and warm controversy between the recent editors.
Upon these the American editor thinks it due to the
character of this edition, to decide for himself without
implicitly following the text OF any one modern edition
As the industry and learning of prior editors have fur
nshed the collation. ofvarious readings and the author-
ties upon which they may be supported, the task is no
longer that eflaborous investigation, but, il were o
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument
As many of these variations are oneary equal prob
ability, and as some of them doubtless the authors
own alterations different periods, all the more impor
tant readings will be presented to the reaGern thenoes
for bis own selection. Those notes will also contain SO
much documentary may be useful to explain anti
quated words and phrases obscurey expressed passages
and illusions to obsolete opinions the habits or his
tory of the times; the whole in as condensed form
| practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare
however brier would be imperfect if it did not present
some view Of the higher criticism employed, not on the
of his language but upon his thoughts
his character, his poetry, passions, philosophy The
only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the mag
nfcent variety, of the materials contributed during the
last half century by the most brilliant minds of Europe
Still it is believed that this duty be satisfactorily
performed without swelling the edition to an inconye
intent bulk.
II. w. IIEWET, Publisher,
26l Broadway, New York.