Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-06-29

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7 |trallona Of h0lIi iIrau editions engraved
with equal excellence If mechanical oke
: .eulio0, 10 add 20 lbuo, otbor onprayings
from eminent artists, .ua Reynolds, IA.
sala s, Newton, &c. aud To- accompany
them With beautifully pripluI aud COZ.
, rect text
Bot tbopubIisboronso that higcoup.
Try should pay some part OF tho ho.
mtHe duo from her to- tho greatest oil
Poets ls 10 one who belongs not solely
to England, but to all
WHO speaks the touguo
That Shakespeare spakc,
T.. Could not conlcn; himself with mere 20
publication or compilation, He has there.
lore prevailed upon r. W WEIR, whose
reputation as an Artist is already ident.
fled with his country's history, TO contr-
butte a series Of Original Designs, togeth
er with such advice and assistance, in
other details, OF art, as his tuste may sug-
Igest, for the illustration and embeIish.
ment Of this publication From the samo
reason, the publisher, instead Of reprint.
ing the text and commentary of any
popular English impression, was des.
rous that his Edition should have the
supervision of an American Editor
This task has been undertaken by Gull
IAN G, NERPLANCk.
The plan proposed 10 himself by the
Editor, Is TO furnish the reader with u
carefully prepared and accurately prin-
ted text, unencumbered by any notes o.
comments upon the page itselI;a how
ever useful they may be elsewhere, they
are too apt TO divert the mind from the
power otthe Poets thoughts, and to dis.
turb the magic of his scene. Such notes
as may be thought useful for the ex-
PLANTATION or criticism Of the text, will be
put into an Appendix to each play.
The text tof Shakspeare's dramatic
works, drawn from old printed copies
in his age, which had never passed under
the authors own eye, was consequently
dlShgurei by many errors and obsurdl-
lies 1t passed during the last century
through succession OF varying editions
until the revision OF Stevens and Malone,
whose text, Cor rather that OF Stevcns,)
has become the standard from which
most of the English and American edit
tons have been printed, with various de-
grees of accuracy. But within the last
twenty Years, q more minute and iamil-
lar acquaintance with old English idioms,
habits and modes of thought, guided by
an intense and constantly increasing ad-
miraton for Shakspeare's genius, has
led TO the strong conviction that very
many Of the numerous though slight de-
ylations from the ancient text, appearing
IN modern edi tions, are useless or erro-
neous interpretations, sometimes weak
enIng the sense, and often substituting an
arbitrary monoonous, metrcal regulari-
ty, to the Poets own native melody
Accordingly, very many of these emen-
datlons have been rejected by the last and
best English editors, especially MT. Knight
and MI. Collier, and the readings Of the
Did ioios and quartos have been res
ored, unless where some error ,oi the
Dress or manuscript was undeniably man.
Tested, Yet there are many such pas
;ages coniessedly corrupt, and requiring
'onjectural emendauons: there are also
differences of reading between the sever
n old impressions, atlording grounds Cor
ome diversity of text, and warm con-
royersy, between the more recent edi-
ors.
Upon these, the American editor thinks
t due to the character of this edition, to
Ieclde for himself, without implicitly
GLOWING the text of any che modern
dtion. As the industry and learning
# prior editors have furnished The col
alton of various readings, and the au-
horllles upon which they may be sup.
orted, the task is no longer that Of la
'orous investigation, but, as it were, of
1dlcIa decision, enlightened by conten-
ing argument.
As many Of these variations are of
early equal probability, and as some of
lem are doubtless the authors own al
,rations at different periods, all the more
Important readings will be presented to
ne reader in the notes, for his selection.
hose notes will also contain so much of
as may be useful to explain
ntiqdated words and phrases, obscurely
impressed passages, aud alluSions 10 OBJ
)letc opinions, or the habits or history Of
le times, the whole in as condeGseda
)rm as practicable. But any commenta-
y upon Shakespeare, however brief, would
D imperfect if it did mot present some
lew of the higher criticism employed,
OF on the Interpretation Of his language,
at upon his thoughts, his character, his
oetry, passions, philosophy. The only
liculty here arises from the abundance,
lie magnificent variety Of the materials
during the last half century,
, the most brilliant minds of Europe
i'll it is believed that this duty can be
performed, without swell
lg he addition to an nconvonent bulk.
J. w. JEWEFT, Publisher,
Q8I Broadway, New York