Page:The Plays and Poems of William Shakspeare (1790) - Vol. 1a.djvu/34

xx and errours of the press in the original and only authentick copy of those plays. Though my judgment on this subject has been formed after a very careful examination, I cannot expect that it should be received on my mere assertion: and therefore it is necessary to substantiate it by proof. This cannot be effected but by a long, minute, and what I am afraid will appear to many, an uninteresting disquisition: but let it still be remembered that to ascertain the genuine text of these plays is an object of great importance.

On a revision of the second folio printed in 1632, it will be found, that the editor of that book was entirely ignorant of our poet’s phraseology and metre, and that various alterations were made by him, in consequence of that ignorance, which render his edition of no value whatsoever.

I. His ignorance of Shakspeare’s phraseology is proved by the following among many other instances.

He did not know that the double negative was the customary and authorized language of the age of Queen Elizabeth, and therefore, instead of— "Nor to her bed no homage do I owe.” Comedy of Errors, Act III. sc. ii. he printed— "Nor to her bed a homage do I owe.”

So, in As you like it, Act II. sc. iv. instead of— "I can not go no further", he printed, “ I can go no further.”

In Much ado about nothing, Act III. sc. i. Hero, speaking of Beatrice, says,

"———there will she hide her,

"To listen our propose."