Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

furnish some lines, when he thought he could give the writer's meaning better than in the words of the manuscript.a

On Sunday, March 30, I found him at home in the evening, and had the pleasure to meet with Dr. Brocklesby, whose reading, and knowledge of life, and good spirits, supply him with a never-failing source of conversation. He mentioned a respectable gentleman, who became extremely penurious near the close of his life. Johnson said there must have been a degree of madness about him. "Not at all Sir, (said Dr. Brocklesby,) his judgement was entire." Unluckily, however, he mentioned that although he had a fortune of twenty-seven thousand pounds, he denied himself many comforts, from an apprehension that he could not afford them. "Nay, Sir, (cried Johnson,) when the judgement is so disturbed that a man cannot count, that is pretty well."

a I shall give an instance, marking the original by Roman, and Johnson's substitution in Italick characters :

"In fairer scenes, where peaceful pleasures spring,
Tityrus, the pride of Mantuan swains, might sing:
But charm'd by him, or smitten with his views,
Shall modern poets court the Mantuan muse?
From Truth and Nature shall we widely stray,
Where Fancy leads, or Virgil leads the way?"
"On Mincio's banks, in Cæsar's bounteous reign,
If Tityrus found the golden age again,
Must sleepy bards the flattering dream prolong,
Mechanick echos of the Mantuan song?

From Truth and Nature shall we widely stray,
Where Virgil, not where Fancy, leads the way."

Here we find Johnson's poetical and critical powers undiminished. I must, how. ever, observe, that the aids he gave to this poem, as to "The Traveller" and "Deserted Village" of Goldsmith, were so small as by no means to impair the distinguished merit of the authour.

Second Edition.-Last verse but one of the quoted lines, printed in Roman letters.

END OF VOL. II.

Just published, in large 12mo, cloth, uncut edges, price tos.; in emblematically gilt cloth and gilt edges, or in morocco, emblematically tooled, 18s.; and in best plain morocco, 215.,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

With all the latest alterations, and finely executed Woodcut Borders round every page; exactly copied from "Queen Elizabeth's Prayer Book," with Additions, and comprising ALBERT DURER'S "Lite of Christ; " HOLBEIN'S "Dance of Death;" "The Cardinal Virtues;" and on the back of the Title, a Portrait of Queen Elizabeth on her knees.

ONDON: BICKERS & SON, LEICESTER SQUARE.

In small 8vo, extra smooth bevelled cloth, extra gilt, ut edges, price 3s. 6a

WITH A

REPRODUCTION OF FORTY-NINE GRAPHIC

ILLUSTRATIONS, HEAD AND TAILPIECES, DRAWN ON WOOD, WHICH APPEARED IN A UNIQUE EDITION OF BUNYAN'S WORKS, PUBLISHED IN 1767.

[graphic][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

NEW COPYRIGHT EDITIONS OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS

AND POEMS.

Shakespeare's Plays and Poems.

EDITED BY

CHARLES AND MARY COWDEN CLARKE

In Four Volumes, Demy Octavo, price £1 11s. 6d.

ALSO,

The Same Text.

In One Volume, Royal Octavo, price 128.

LONDON BICKERS & SON, I LEICESTER SQUARE.

Mrs

The PUBLISHERS have much pleasure in announcing the publication of the above Editions of Shakespeare's Plays and Poems. Cowden Clarke's Edition of Shakespeare, recently published by Messrs Appleton & Co. of New York, has been made the basis of Mr and Mrs Cowden Clarke's joint labours. The original Edition, produced after long and careful preparation, has met with great and deserved success in America. As the present issue, in addition to the careful revision of Mrs Cowden Clarke, has had the benefit of the labours of Mr Charles Cowden Clarke, one of the most zealous and successful illustrators of the great Dramatist now living, they believe they are presenting Editions of Shakespeare's Works distinguished by an amount of mature judgment in collating the earlier copies which will vindicate their claim to the rank of STANDARD EDITIONS.

In projecting Editions of Shakespeare without note or comment, the PUBLISHERS believe that they will be acceptable to the general public who desire to become acquainted with the writings of the author, free from the distraction which a multiplicity of notes is so apt to produce, and to those also who prefer being their own interpreters of the meaning of the passages which appear obscure.

As the value of these Editions will lie in the discrimination exercised in the selection of the text by the Editors, it will be conceded

« ZurückWeiter »