Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-06-22


lmiI0nH ~ both Ibfau editions onsfagUJ
witb equal oxc1IIs6ss of mocha bieal csc.
obtju, 90 add 20 these aflgr engraving
rom ominonl artists, ,as l8ya0'd's, ~
Ifeit 2, NrwiUur Wca md ~ accompany
thnm Hilb.n beautifully pflplgi ,nj cgf
.frr. fatl
f BUT lhaplH.'sbaDaUvIuusth that hiacouy.
Try should p1y some rG ~ tho no
mia1 1ug from her 10 he greatest or
'pJafg, qs 10 one who JeigHga not sgey
.D England bot TO all
WHO speaks tho lossuo
That Shakespeare 5pokc,
Could not ronInn. himself with nero re-
+ pub. cation or compilation. Tic has there.
/ lore prevailed upon n. W WEiu, whose
reputation NJ an Artist Is already dent.
+ fed With bis country's history, to contr-
butte a serIos Of Original Designs, togclh.
or with such advice and assistance, in
other details, Of art as his taste may sug
gost, for tho illustration and embeIish-
mcnt OF this publication. From the same
reason, the publisher, instead Of reprint.
ing tho text and commentary OF any
popular English impression, was desi-
rous that his Edition should have the
supervision Of an American Editor
This task has been undertaken by Gull
IAN c. NERPLANCK.
The plan proposed TO himself by the
Editor, is to furnish the reader with a
carefully prepared and accurately prn-
ted text, unencumbered by any notes or
comments upon the page itsef;a as how
ever useful they may be else where, they
are too apt to divert the mind from the
power ofthe 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 Of Shakspeare's dramatic
works, drawn from old printed copies
+ in his age, which had never passed under
the authors own eye, was consequently
Idlstgured by many errors and obsurdi-
ties. ltpassed during the last century
through a successonof varying editions
until the revision OF Stevens and Malone,
whose text, Tor rather that OF Stevens,)
has become the standard from which
most Of the English and American edi-
| lions have been printed, with various de-
|grees Of accuracy. But within The last
twenty ears, more minute and lamil-
lar acquaintance with old English idioms,
habits and modes Of thought, guided by
an latense aud constantly increasing ad-
mlration for Shakspeare's genius, has
led TO the strong conviction that verv
many OF the numerous though slight de-
vatons from the ancientteXt, appearing
N modern editions, are useless or erro-
neous interpretations, sometimes weak
Ienng the sense, and often substituting an
arbitrary monoonous, metrical regulari-
ty, to the Poets own native melody
Accordingly, very many Of these emen-
dauons have been rejected by the last and
best English editors, especially Mr.. Knight
and Mr.. Collier, and the readings of the
old ioIlos and quartos have been res
tored, unless where some error OF the
press or manuscript was undeniably man.
Tested. Yet there are many such pas
Sages conlessedly corrupt, and requiring
conJectural emendauons: there are also
differences Of reading between the sever
al old Impressions, afording grounds Cor
some diversity OF text, aud warm CON
troycrsy, between the more recent edi-
tors.
Upon these, the American editor thinks
II due 10 the character Of this edition, to
decide Tor himself, without implicitly
following the text of any one modern
edition. As the industry and learning
OF prior editors have lurnshed,the col
IatIon OF, various readings, and the au-
thortIes upon which they may be sup.
ported, the task is no longer that of la
POROUS investigation, but, as it were, of
judicial decision, enlightened by conten-
ding argument aaa ~
A S many Of these variations are OF
nearly equal probability, and as some OF
them are doubtless the authors own az.
teratlons 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
words and phrases, obscurely
expressed passages, and illusions TO OBJ
soele opinions, or the habits or history of
the times, the whole in as condenseda
form as practicable. But any commenta-
ry upon Shakespeare, however BRIEF would
be imperfect fit did mot present some
view of the higher criticism employed,
not on the Interpretation Of his language.
but upon his thoughts, his character, his
poetry, passions, philosophy The only
difficulty here arises from the abundance,
he magnificent variety Of the materials
Contributed during the last half. century.
~ the most brilliant minds of Europe.G
till it is believed that this duty can be
satisfactorily performed, without swell.
ng I he addition to an inconvenieut bulk
J, w, JEWErT, Publisher.
: Y