Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/86

74 founded on the uppoition, that Shakepeare was originally an author correct in the utmot degree, but maimed and interpolated by the neglect or preumption of the players. In conequence of this belief, alterations have been propoed wherever a vere could be harmonized, an epithet exchanged for one more appoite, or a entiment rendered les perplexed. Had the general current of advice been followed, the notes would have been filled with attempts at emendation apparently unneceary, though ometimes elegant, and as frequently with explanations of what none would have thought difficult. A contant peruer of Shakepeare will uppoe whatever is eay to his own apprehenion, will prove o to that of others, and conequently may pas over ome real perplexities in ilence. On the contrary, if in conideration of the different abilities of every clas of readers, he hould offer a comment on all harh inverions of phrae, or peculiarities of expreion, he will at once excite the digut and dipleaure of uch as think their own knowledge or agacity undervalued. It is difficult to fix a medium between doing too little and too much in the tak of mere explanation. There are yet many paages unexplained and unintelligible, which may be reformed, at hazard of whatever licence, for exhibitions on the tage, in which the pleaure of the audience is chiefly to be conidered; but mut remain untouched by the critical editor, whoe conjectures are limited by narrow bounds, and who gives only what he at leat uppoes his author to have written.