The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-01-22
, ROSPECTU

The PTCToRIAL. and ILLUSTRATED editions of SHAkS-
PEAItE, lately published in D ngland, are amongst the
most beautiful specimens ofthe recent and remarkable
of the art Of wood engraving, which by
combining great excellence of execution with economy
of price, has given an unprecedented diffusion to the
most useful as well as the most exquisite productionsot
the arts ofDesign.
The designs of KENNY MEADOWS for the illustrations
of Tyas' edition of Shakespeare express the character of
the several personages, and the spirit of the scene, with
wonderful Truth and power: whilst the wood engraving
of Knights Pictorial edition combine with the highest
merits of art and taste such a learned and minute accu-
racy as to scenery, costume, architecture and antiquity
as to make them Il perpetual and most instructive COM
montary upon the Poets text. 1t is now proposed to
embody in an american edition, the admirable illustra
ton OF both these editions, engraved with equal excel
lence Of mechanical execution, to add to these, other en-
cravings from eminent artists, as Il Reynolds, Lusei, $.
Newton, &c, and to accompany them with q bcauti-
fully printed aud correct text.
But the publisher, anxious that his country should
pay some partof the homage due from her to the great
est Poets, as to one who belongs not solely to England
but to all
---who speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
could not content himself with a mere republication or
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon R.. W.
WEIR, whose reputation rs an Artist is already identi-
fed with his country's history, to contribute a series OF
original designs, together with such advice and assis-
lance in other details ofart as his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment of this publication.
From the SAME reason the publisher, instead 0llepllHun6
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. V~ERPLANCK.
The plan proposed to himselfby the editor, is to fur
nish the reader with a carefully prepared and accurate
.ly printed text, unencumbered 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 nsetul
for the explanation or criticism OF the teXt,wlll 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 obscurites. 1t passed du-
ling the last century through a succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text Tor rather that Of Stevens) has become the STAN
IdaTd from which most of the English and American e.
ditions have been printed, with various degrees ofac-
curacy. But within the last twenty years, a more mi
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idioms
habits and modes Of thought, guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeare's ge-
Mus, has led to the strong conviction that very many OF
the numerous though slight deviations from the ancient
text appearing in modern editions, are useless or erro-
neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting an arbitrary monotonous metrical
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord
Iiugly very many of these examinations have been rejec-
ted by the last and best English editors, especially Mr..
knight and Mr.. Collier, and the readings of the old TO-
1--WE ulIu quuI lOS nave DCtH lt5tOiC'if ullboo WuOi SUNNI
error ofthe press or manuscript was undeniably mani
fest. Yet there are many such passages coniessedly
corrupt, and requiring coujectural emendation; there
are also differences of reading between the several old
impressions, afording grounds for some diversity Of text
and warm controversy between the more recent editors.
Upon these, the American editorthinlts 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. ofvarious readings and the authors
ties upon which they may be supported, the task is no
longer that ofla.5rous Investigation, but, as it were, of
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument.
AS many oftbese 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 thenotes
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 a form as
practicable. But any commentary upon Shakespeare,
however brief, would be imperfect if il did not present
some view of the higher criticism employed, notion the
inter pretation of his langua &c. but upon his thoughts,
his character, his poetry, p issions, philosophy. Inc
only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the mag
nifcent variety of the materials contributed during the
last halfcentury by the most brilliant minds Of Europe.
Still it is believed that this duty can be satisfactorily
performed without swelling the edition p an Inconve-
nient bnlk. H. w. HEWET, Publisher,