Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/79

 of mind, which depied its own performances, when it compared them with its powers, and judged thoe works unworthy to be preerved, which the criticks of following ages were to contend for the fame of retoring and explaining.

Among thee candidates of inferior fame, I am now to tand the judgment of the publick; and wih that I could confidently produce my commentary as equal to the encouragement which I have had the honour of receiving. Every work of this kind is by its nature deficient, and I hould feel little olicitude about the entence, were it to be pronounced only by the kilful and the learned.

Of what has been performed in this revial, an account is given in the following pages by Mr. Steevens, who might have poken both of his own diligence and agacity, in terms of greater elf-approbation, without deviating from modety or truth.

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