Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/73

Rh As I practied conjecture more, I learned to trut les; and after I had printed a few plays, reolved to inert none of my own readings in the text. Upon this caution I now congratulate myelf, for every day encreaes my doubt of my emendations.

Since I have confined my imagination to the margin, it mut not be conidered as very reprehenible, if I have uered it to play ome freaks in its own dominion. There is no danger in conjecture, if it be propoed as conjecture; and while the text remains uninjured, thoe changes may be afely offered, which are not conidered even by him that offers them as neccary or afe.

If my readings are of little value, they have not been otentatiouly diplayed or importunately obtruded. I could have written longer notes, for the art of writing notes is not of difficult attainment. The work is performed, firt by railing at the tupidity, negligence, ignorance, and ainine tatelenes of the former editors, and hewing, from all that goes before and all that follows, the inelegance and aburdity of the old reading; then by propoing omething, which to uperficial readers would eem pecious, but which the editor rejects with indignation; then by producing the true reading, with a long paraphrae, and concluding with loud acclamations on the dicovery, and a ober wih for the advancement and properity of genuine criticim.

All this may be done, and perhaps done ometimes without impropriety. But I have always upected that