The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-01-15
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,

Aitb h'BI El"ANf
could not content himself with IA mere republication or
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon X. w.
WEIR, whose reputation as an Artist is already identi-
IfedWith his coLntry's history, to contribute a series OF
original designs, together with such advice and assis-
lance in other details of art as his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment Of this publication.
From the SAME reason the publisher, instead ofreprintng
the text and commentary of any popular English i'm
preston, was DESTROYS that his edition should have the
supervision ofan American editor. This task has been
undertaken. by CUBAN c. NERPhANCK.
The plan proposed to h~imselfby the editor, is to fur
nish the reader with a carefully prepared and accurate
ly printed text, un~encumbered 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 nseill
for the explanation or criticism of the text,wil be
thrown into an Appendix to each play.
The text Of Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which had never pas"
sed under the authors own eye, was consequently dis
figured by many errors and obseulitlos, 1t passed du-
ring the last century through a succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text Cor rather that ofSteyens) has become the STAN
Idard from which most of the English and American e.
ditions have been printed, with various degrees ofac-
cUracy. But within the last twenty years, II more mi
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idioms
habits and modes Of thought, guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiration for ShakspeaIe's ge-
Mus, has led to the strong conviction that very many OF
the numerous though slight deyiations from the ancient
text appearing IN modern editions, are useless or crro-
neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting an arbitrary monotonous metrical
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord
iingly very many Of these emandations have been rejec-
ted by the last and best English editors, especially Mr..
Knight and MI. Collier, and the readings Of the old TO-
los and quartos have been restored, unless where some
error ofthe press or manuscript was undeniably mani
fest. Yet there are many such passages contessedly
corrupt, and requiring conjectural cancellations; there
are also differences Of reading between the several old
impressions, afIording grounds for some diversity of text
and warm controversy between the more 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
nished the collation. ofvaGious readings and the authori-
ties upon which they may be supported, the task is no
longer that oflaborious investigation, but, as it were, Of
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument.
AS many ofthese variations are ofnearly equal prob
ability, and as some Of them are doubtless the authors
own alterations at different periods, all the more impor-
tant readings will be presented to the reaGerin the notes
for his own selection. Those notes will also contain so
much documentary as may be useful to explain anti
quated words and phrases, obscurely expressed passages
and illusions to obsolete opinions or the habits or his
tory of the times; the whole in as condensed q form as
practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare,
however briet, would be imperfect ii it did not 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, the mag
nifcent variety, of the materials contributed during the
last half century by the most brilliant minds of Europe.
Still it is believed that this duty can be satisfactorily
performed without swelling the edition to an inconvo-
nient bulk. II. w. HEWET, Publisher,
2S1 Broadway, New York.