Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/89

Rh of that celebrated drama, in which almot every original beauty is either aukwardly diguied, or arbitrarily omitted. So little were the defects or peculiarities of the old writers known, even at the beginning of our century, that though the cutom of alteration had prevailed to that degree in the time of Shakepeare, that it became contemptible and ridiculous, yet it is made one of Waller’s praies by a writer of his life, that he firt introduced this practice into Englih verification.

It will be expected that ome notice hould be taken of the lat editor of Shakepeare, and that his merits hould be etimated with thoe of his predeceors. Little, however, can be aid of a work, to the completion of which, both a large proportion of the commentary and various readings is as yet wanting. The Second Part of King Henry VI. is the only play from that edition, which has been conulted in the coure of this work; for as everal paages there are arbitrarily omitted, and as no notice is given when other deviations are made from the old copies, it was of little conequence to examine any further. This circumtance is mentioned, let uch accidental coincidences of opinion, as may be dicovered hereafter, hould be interpreted into plagiarim.

It may occaionally happen, that ome of the remarks long ago produced by others, are offered again as recent dicoveries. It is likewie abolutely impoible to pronounce with any degree of certainty, whence all the hints, which urnih matter for a commentary, have been collected, as they lay cattered