New-York tribune., 1877-08-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A NEW VARIORUM EDITION OF s1tAKESPEAAREE' RE
Hamlet. Vols Ill }. Lappiucott Is Co
The charming literary aroma which pervades
the editorial portion O, this work no less character
istc feature than the thoroughncss OF It's plan or the
hdcliN OF It's execution. Mt Fdrness has engaged III
his arduous and delicate critical labors with the spirit
Of poet rather than with The zeal OF commentator
and without "a trace of the pedant narrow phlcogst
Nothing but she Snccvst love o Shakespeare could nave
inspired the devotion OF many toisomc DAYS ana
wpichtu nights we've essential 60 the consann'a"h
of his brave enterprise No sign Of askwork is betrayed
in the whole compass OF his pages, bat they are an "e
frosh aad salient as the waters o. a living spring
1t is q De regretted that Mr. fuTesS mas con
fnel hir.self in 50 great degree to the work
Of compilation. ana decided o. oant TIE original
essay on thc literature which the play Of " Eainct has
created IN Germany. that formed part oi the orig
inal plan of the TIC exquisite taste aud adira'e
Judgment exhibited the manner ia which lac has pre-
seuted the lahors OF other writer's would have insure"
cordial rccep,iOn 10 the more elaborate productions o.
his own pen In tire first volume of ilis edition nj f"'
ness has presented the text Of Hamlet "ct"'uhA 3"
his own views with collation. OF tie tcNi oI '"e q"t'o
ami foios and Of some thirty modern chuons lhcu uAH
notes and comments from the editors WIosc texts arc
coliated and such other verbal and gann'ilcai cuI-
eisos from other quarters seemed TO DC Nui" e.
with occasional specimens o the o1rdyacance ana az"
surI.ty IN which snakespear.an' crucs nave '--
lighted iadulce IN tie commentary rfei'le",' ""'
been gwen 10 Ntiihl oNN4 'NN''N'~
fhe latter having been reserved FOR the see
ona volume except in cases when ue notes were Too
brief and fagucaay 20 DE separated from the context
In tie second volume tho editor has given complete re-
print Of The quaro of 1903, which differs from TIE fe>'
so materially tha record Of it- various readings n the
form OF is simply ont OF the question; tins Is
followed by The Hystorc of Hamlet The story on
which. II is possible founded either tne present
TRAGEDY or the lost original drama which Shakespeare
af,rwarJ changed 20 its present shape; then comes
translation o. Fratucide Punished; or Prince Hait,
OF Denmark" a curious old German tragedy otWAich ah
account IS given in note by tie cditcr the English
critics follow next with an ample discussion OF the nys
terry OF Hamlc.s sanity we have tE'n Notes Oh i"c
Name and Characters" ON The Duration OF the Action
on "Garricks Version and on Actors' iucTlre iaoHSi
and next tho German Criticism forminsa c'pious oI-
ryol5AaLtsIaclan ~ ecaue.n tie selections IRON Whch
the editor hos been guided by c. tain weidelued ana
emineuuy iujcious principles. First, all uniaVola'e
criticism oi lcov-crtcs is, far a. possible excluded
The Germans remarks Mr Furnes> though prond %!
their distinction as nation ~ thinkers, sometimes
disposed 10 rudgc the proper share 20 one another
Nor Tins peculiar 10 the Germans II is curious 10 OLE
serve how much OF ShaRcspealan criticism, Eusisll as
well az German, devoted 20 hostile criticism oi fellow
critics which has doubtless tended To bring dsrclmie
on this branch Of literature. second the selection is
confned as closely a. possible the single point of the
character Hamlet; aud lastly, whatever las been
found Of striking originality, although not necessarily
true bccn included among the extracts II has been
the sincere aim Of editor select from every author
tile passages i'm winch he appears 0 most advantage ad
contributed his thoughts 20 the clucidaon Of the
great tragedy The result Mr. FurneSss intelligent ana
faithful llbors Is q mass Of criticism which cmhodles
some the most profound sieculaiions C the century
and the study Of which involves the most valuable Gle
tnents of liberal education IN The TRANSACTIONS from hc
German tho editor had the benefit OF the rare shl
and accomplishments a German scholar of his dis
tngushel father, the Rev. Dr. Furness OF Philadelphia
all Of which are from pen Tie photographed Ia
ble are NO less remarkable for Their completeness Than
the reminder OF the work, forming exhaustive
oataIoglc of the literature pertaining 90 Hamlet
such as can bc found other work in English nor li-
deed In any language In the execution OF Nh Furncsss
rreat enterprise thus Ear The American scholar may hnd
ius cause for pride and conatdla 1t belongs TO
kind OF intellectual workmanship which IS usually
looked for among the productions OF the up,st
culture rather tlaa the early flights o youth
fu literature. The highest efforts Of learning and
echoarsI; at tins epoch often marked 10y certain
cruelty which bctIays tie lack OF thorough cultivation
and mental rcuosc TheIe visible strain upon ti-
facltics an attempt 90 supply by yehcmence what is
wanting u power. inatcnuou 70 cXaciucss OF state
ment in tle search after startling effects ad n-lect
of the minute ana delicate touches whcare tho essential
conditions OF aesthetic harmony, that would have been
fatal 10 the accomplishment ol work Ike the present
The accuracy OF detail even the most trivial points
which olaiactIizes It's execution, the solid. merchant
able character speak, both OF its materials and lis
arranecment aud good faith and vigorous practical
energy with which the plan Of the work mas been
carried out are qualities, IL less attractive
than the spirit poetry i'm which had ls origin Even
the consuumatc prooiTeading OF the volumes presents
work Of art beauty viii not fan 10 be appreciated
by the intelligent amateur.