Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/72

60 with hort paues, interpoed as often as the cene is changed, or any coniderable time is required to pas. This method would at once quell a thouand aburdities.

In retoring the author’s works to their integrity, I have conidered the punctuation as wholly in my power; for what could be their care of colons and commas, who corrupted words and entences. Whatever could be done by adjuting points, is therefore ilently performed, in ome plays, with much diligence, in others with les; it is hard to keep a buy eye teadily fixed upon evanecent atoms, or a dicurive mind upon evanecent truth.

The ame liberty has been taken with a few particles, or other words of light effect:. I have ometimes inferred or omitted them without notice. I have done that ometimes, which the other editors have done always, and which indeed the tate of the text may ufficiently jutify.

The greater part of readers, intead of blaming us for paing trifles, will wonder that on mere trifles o much labour is expended, with uch importance of debate, and uch olemnity of diction. To thee I anwer with confidence, that they are judging of an art which they do not undertand; yet cannot much reproach them with their ignorance, nor promie that they would become in general, by learning criticim, more ueful, happier, or wier. As