Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/63

Rh Let me however do them jutice. One is a wit, and one a cholar. They have both hown acutenes ufficient in the dicovery of faults, and have both advanced ome probable interpretations of obcure paages; but when they apire to conjecture and emendation, it appears how falely we all etimate our own abilities, and the little which they have been able to perform might have taught them more candour to the endeavours of others.

Before Dr. Warburtbon’s edition, Critical obervations on Shakepeare had been publihed by Mr. Upton, a man killed in languages, and acquainted with books, but who eems to have had no great vigour of genius or nicety of tate. Many of his explanations are curious and ueul but he likewie, though he profeed to oppoe the licentious confidence of editors, and adhere to the old copies, is unable to retrain the rage of emendation, though his ardour is ill econded by his kill. Every cold empirick, when his heart is expanded by a uccesful experiment, wells into a theorit, and the laborious collator at ome unlucky moment frolicks in conjecture.

Critical, hitorical, and explanatory notes have been likewie publihed upon Shakepeare by Dr. Grey, Rh