Page:Hamlet - The Arden Shakespeare - 1899.djvu/14



edition of Hamlet aims in the first place at giving a trustworthy text.

Secondly, it attempts to exhibit the variations from that text which are found in the primary sources—the Quarto of 1604 and the Folio of 1623—in so far as those variations are of importance towards the ascertainment of the text. Every variation is not recorded, but I have chosen to err on the side of excess rather than on that of defect. Readings from the Quarto of 1603 are occasionally given, and also from the later Quartos and Folios, but to record such readings is not a part of the design of this edition. The letter Q means Quarto 1604; F means Folio 1623.

The dates of the later Quartos are as follows:—Q 3, 1605; Q 4, 1611; Q 5, undated; Q 6, 1637. For my few references to these later Quartos I have trusted the Cambridge Shakespeare and Furness's edition of Hamlet.

Thirdly, it gives explanatory notes. Here it is inevitable that my task should in the main be that of selection and condensation. But, gleaning after the gleaners, I have perhaps brought together a slender sheaf. Thus, I am not aware that I have been