Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/66

54 to cones, that I have nothing better to propoe.

After the labours of all the editors, I found many paages which appeared to me likely to obtruct the greater number of readers, and thought it my duty to facilitate their paage. It is impoible for an expoitor not to write too little for ome, and too much for others. He can only judge, what is neceary by his own experience; and how long oever he may deliberate, will at lat explain many lines which the learned will think impoible to be mitaken, and omit many for which the ignorant will want his help. Thee are cenures merely relative, and mut be quietly endured. I have endeavoured to be neither uperfluouly copious, nor crupulouly reerved, and hope that I have made my author’s meaning acceible to many, who before were frighted from peruing him, and contributed omething to the publick, by diffuing innocent and rational pleaure.

The complete explanation of an author not ytematick and conequential, but deultory and vagrant, abounding in caual alluions and light hints, is not to be expcted from any ingle choliat. All peronal reflection, when names are uppreed, mut be in a few years irrecoverably obliterated; and cutoms, too minute to attract the notice of law, uch as modes of dres, formalities of converation, rules of viits, dipoition of furniture, and practices of ceremony, which naturally find places in familiar dialogue, are o fugitive and unubtantial, that they are not eaily retained or recovered. What can be known will be collected by chance, from the recees of obcure and obolete