He, therefore, on this subject, is the assailant, and not the conductors of the present republication.

But though, in the course of succeeding strictures, several other of Mr. Malone's positions may be likewife controverted, fome with seriousness, and some with levity, (for our discussions are not of quite fo folemn a turn as those which involve the interests of our country,) we feel an undissembled pleasure in avowing that his remarks are at once so numerous and correct, that when criticism "has done its worst," their merit but in a small degree can be affected. We are confident, however, that he himself will hereafter join with us in considering no small proportion of our contested readings as a mere game at literary pushpin; and that if Shakspeare looks down upon our petty squabbles over his mangled scenes, it must be with feelings similar to those of Lucan's hero,

- ridetque fui ludibria trunci.

In the Preface of Mr. Malone, indeed, a direct cenfure has been levelled at incorrectness in the text of the edition 1778. The justice of the imputation is unequivocally allowed; but, at the same time, might not this acknowledgement be seconded by fomewhat like a retort? for is it certain that the collations, &c. of 1790 are wholly secure from similar charges? Are they accompanied by no unauthorized readings, no omiffions of words, and transpositions? Through all the plays, and especially those of which there is only a fingle copy, they have been with fome diligence

retraced, and the frailties of their collator, fuchas they are, have been afcertained. They shall not, however, be oftentatiously pointed out, and for this only reason: That as they decrease but little, if at all, the vigour of Shakspeare, the critick who in general has performed with accuracy one of the heaviest of literary tasks, ought not to be molested by a display of petty faults, which might have eluded the most vigilant faculties of fight and hearing that were ever placed as spies over the labours of each other. They are not even mentioned here as a covert mode of attack, or as a "note of preparation" for future hoftilities. The office of devising brave punishments for faithless editors, is therefore strenuously declined, even though their guilt should equal that of one of their number (Mr. Steevens) who stands convicted of having given winds instead of wind, Stables instead of stable, fefssions instead of Session, fins. instead of fin and (we shudder while we recite the accusation) my instead of mine. *

fuch small deer

"Have been our food for many a year;

so long, in truth, that any further pursuit of them is here renounced, together with all triumphs founded on the detection of harmless synonymous particles that accidentally may have deserted their proper places and wandered into others, without injury to Shakspeare. - A few chipped or disjointed stones

See Mr. Malone's Preface, p. 423, & seq.

will not impair the shape or endanger the flability of a pyramid. We are far from wishing to depreciate exactness, yet cannot perfuade ourselves but that a single lucky conjecture or illustration, should outweigh a thousand spurious haths deposed in favour of legitimate has's, and the like infignificant recoveries, which may not too degradingly be termed the haberdasheries of criticism; that "fland in number, though in reckoning none;" and are as unimportant to the Poet's fame,

"As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf
"To his grand fea."

We shall venture also to affert, that, on a minute scrutiny, every editor, in his turn, may be charged with omiffion of fome preferable reading; so that he who drags his predeceffor to justice on this score, will have good luck if he escapes ungalled by recrimination.

If fomewhat, therefore, in the succeeding volumes has been added to the correction, and illuftration of our author, the purpose of his present editors is completely answered. On any thing like perfection in their labours they do not prefume, being too well convinced that, in defiance of their beft efforts, their own incapacity, and that of the original quarto and folio-mongers, have still left fufficient work for a race of commentators who are yet unborn.

Be it remembered also, that the afssistants and

1

adversaries of editors, enjoy one material advantage over editors themselves. They are at liberty to select their objects of remark;

& quæ

Desperant tractata nitefcere poffe, relinquunt.

The fate of the editor in form is less propitious. • He is expected to combat every difficulty from which his auxiliaries and opponents could fecure an honourable retreat. It should not therefore be wondered at, if some of his enterprizes are unfuccefsful.

Though the foregoing Advertisement has run out into an unpremeditated length, one circumstance remains to be mentioned. The form and substance of the commentary attending this republication having been materially changed and enlarged fince it first appeared, in compliance with ungrateful custom, the name of its original editor might have been withdrawn : but Mr. Steevens could not prevail on himself to forego an additional opportunity of recording in a title-page that he had once the honour of being united in a task of literature with Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. This is a distinction which malevolence cannot obfcure, nor flattery transfer to any other candi date for publick favour.

VOL. I.

C

IT may poffibly be expected, that a list of Errata should attend so voluminous a work as this, or that cancels should apologize for its more material inaccuracies. Neither of these measures, however, has in the present instance been adopted, and for reasons now fubmitted to the publick.

In regard to errata, it has been customary with not a few authors to acknowledge small mistakes, that they might escape the fufpicion of greater, * or perhaps to intimate that no greater could be detected. Both little and great (and doubtless there may be the usual proportion of both) are here expofed (with very few exceptions) to the candour and perspicacity of the reader, who needs not to be told that in fifteen volumes octavo of intricate and variegated printing, gone through in the space of about twenty months, the most vigilant eyes must occafionally have been overwatched, and the readiest knowledge intercepted. The fight of the editors, indeed, was too much fatigued to encourage their engagement in so laborious a revision; and they are likewise convinced that substitutes are not always qualified for their task; but instead of pointing out real mistakes, would have supposed the existence of fuch as were