Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/286

[ 270 ] done towards their elucidation, during that period, than perhaps in a century before. All the ancient copies of his plays, hitherto dicovered, have been collated with the mot crupulous accuracy. The meanet books have been carefully examined, only becaue they were of the age in which he lived, and might happily throw a light on ome forgotten cutom, or obolete phraeology: and, this object being till kept in view, the toil of wading through all uch reading as was never read, has been chearfully endured, becaue no labour was thought too great, that might enable us to add one new laurel to the father of our drama. Almot every circumtance that tradition or hitory has preerved relative to him or his works, has been invetigated, and laid before the publick; and the avidity with which all communications of this kind have been received, ufficiently proves that the time expended in the puruit has not been wholly miemployed.

However, after the mot diligent enquiries, very few particulars have been recovered, repecting his private life, or literary hitory: and while it has been the endeavour of all his editors and commentators, to illutrate his obcurities, and to regulate and correct his text, no attempt has been made to trace the progres and order of his plays. Yet urely it is no incurious peculation, to mark the gradations