Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/60

48 Of the lat editor it is more difficult to peak. Repect is due to high place, tendernes to living reputation, and veneration to genius and learning; but he cannot be jutly offended at that liberty of which he has himelf o frequently given an example, nor very olicitous what is thought of notes, which he ought never to have conidered as part of his erious employments, and which, I uppoe, ince the ardor of compoition is remitted, he no longer numbers among his happy effuions.

The original, and predominant error of his commentary, is acquiecence in his firt thoughts; that precipitation which is produced by conciounes of quick dicernment; and that confidence which preumes to do, by urveying the urace, what labour only can perform, by penetrating the bottom. His notes exhibit ometimes pervere interpretations, and ometimes improbable conjectures; he at one time gives the author more profundity of meaning than the entence admits, and at another dicovers aburdities, where the ene is plain to every other reader. But his emendations are likewie often happy and jut; and his interpretation of obcure paages learned and agacious.

Of his notes, I have commonly rejected thoe, againt which the general voice of the publick has exclaimed, or which their own incongruity immediately condemns, and which, I uppoe the author himelf would deire to be forgotten. Of the ret, to part I have given the highet approbation, by erting