The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-10-02


could not content himself with a mere republication or
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon X. w.
WEIR, whose reputation as an Artist is already idcnti-
fed with his %country's history, to contribute a series OF
original designs, together with such advice and assis-
lance in otherdetails Of art as his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment of this publication.
From the same reason the publisher, instead ofreprinting
the text and commentary of any popular English i'm
preston, was DESTROYS that his edition should have the
supervision 6fan American editor. This task has been
undertaken, by CUBAN c. VERPLANCK.
The plan proposed to h~imselfby the editor, is to fur
nish the reader with a carefully prepared and accurate
ly printed text, unencumbcred by any notes or COM
ments 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 ma
gic ofhis scene. Such notes as may be thought nscful
for the explanation or criticism Of the text,will be
thrown into an Appendix to each play.
The text Of Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
romold printed copies in his age, which had never pas
sed under the authors own eye, was consequently dis
figured by many errors and obscuritics. 1t passed du-
ring the last century through a succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text Tor rather that oGStcVens) has become the stan
dard from which most of the English and American G.
ditions have been printed, with various degrees Of ae-
curacy. Bnt within the last twenty years, Il more mi
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idioms
habits and modes Of thought, guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspcare's ge-
MUS, has led to the strong conviction that very many OF
the numerous though slight dcviations from the ancient
text appearing in modern editions, are useless or errO-
neous interpretations, sometimes Weakening the sense
and often substituting an arbitrary mon0tonous metricaI
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord.
ingly very many of these emandations have been reiec.
ted by the last and best English editors, especially Mr.
Knight and Mr.. Collier, and the readings Of the Odd TO-
Eos and qnartos have been restored, unless where some
error ofthe press or manuscript was mdeIiably mani
fest. Yet there are many such passages coniessedly
corrupt, and requiring conjectural emendation; theyt
are also differences of reading between the several oil
impressions, a~ffording grounds for some diversity Of tex
md warm controversy between the more recent editors
Upon these, the American editor thinks it due to thu
character of this edition, to decide for himself withou
implicitly following the text of any one modern edition
As the industry and learning of prior editors have fur
nished the collation. ofVarious readings and the authori
ties upon which they may be supported, the task is NJ
longer that of laborious investigation, but, as it were, o
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument
AS many ofthese variations are ofnearly equal prob
ability, and as some of them are doubtless the author
own alterations at different periods, all the more impoI
tant readings will be presented to the reader in the note
for his own selection. Those notes will also contain S
much documentary as may be useful TO explain ant
quated words and phrases, obscuTely expressed passage
and illusions to obsolete opinions or the habits or bis
tory Of the times; the whole in as condensed a form a
practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare
however briec, W. uld be imperfect If it did not preser
some view of the higher criticism employed, not on tn
Interpretation Of his language. but upon his thoughts
his character, his poetry, passions, philosophy. Til
only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the mae
nifcent variety, of the materials contributed during til
last half century by the most brilliant minds Of Europt
Still il is believed that this duty can be satisfactory
performed without swelling the edition to an inconyt
nient bulk. "
II. w. HEWET, Publisher.
281 Broadway, New York.