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the nobleft parts of fpeech, fuch as mixed-modes; which, as they are most susceptible of abuse, so their abuse most hurts the clearness of the discourse. The critics (to whom Shakefpeare's licence was still as much a fecret as his meaning, which that licence had obfcured) fell into two contrary miftakes; but equally injurious to his reputation and his writings. For fome of them observing a darkness, that pervaded his whole expreffion, have cenfured him for confufion of ideas and inaccura y of reasoning. In the neighing of a borfe, (fays Rymer) or in the growling of a mastiff, there is a meaning, there is a lively expression, and, may I fay, more bumanity than many times in the tragical flights of Sheakespeare. The ignorance of which cenfure is of a piece with its brutality. The truth is, no one thought clearer, or argued more closely than this immortal bard. But his fuperiority of genius lefs needing the intervention of words in the act of thinking, when he came to draw out his contemplations into discourse, he took up (as he was hurried on by the torrent of his matter) with the first words that lay in his way; and if, amongst these, there were two mixed-modes that had but a principal idea in common, it was enough for him; he regarded them as fynonymous, and would use the one for the other without fear or fcruple.-Again, there have been others, fuch as the two last editors, who have fallen into a contrary extreme; and regarded Shakespeare's anomalies (as we may call them) amongst the corruptions of his text; which, therefore, they have cashiered in great numbers, to make room for a jargon of their own. This hath put me to additional trouble; for I had not only their interpolations to throw out again, but the genuine text to replace, and establish in its ftead; which, in many cafes, could not be done without fhewing the peculiar fense of the terms, and explaining the caufes which led the poet to so perverse an use of

favourite poet, without drawing out his character, as was once intended, in a continued discourse.

Thefe, fuch as they are, were amongst my younger amusements, when many years ago, I used to turn over these fort of writers to unbend myself from more serious applications: And what, certainly, the public, at this time of day, had never been troubled with, but for the conduct of the two laft editors, and the perfuafions of dear Mr. POPE; whofe memory and name,

-femper acerbum,

Semper honoratum (fic Dî voluiftis) habebo.

He was defirous I should give a new edition of this poet, as he thought it might contribute to put a stop to a prevailing folly of altering the text of celebrated authors without talents or judgment. And he was willing that his edition should be melted down into mine, as it would, he said, afford him (fo great is the modesty of an ingenuous temper) a fit opportunity of confeffing his mistakes *. In memory of our friendfhip, I have therefore, made it our joint edition. His admirable preface is here added; all his notes are given, with his name annexed; the scenes are divided according to his regulation; and the most beautiful paffages distinguished, as in his book, with inverted commas. In imitation of him, I have done the fame by as many others as I thought most deferving of the reader's attention, and have marked them with double commas.

If, from all this, Sheakespeare or good letters have received any advantage, and the public any benefit, or entertainment, the thanks are due to the proprietors, who have been at the expence of procuring this edition. And I fhould be

See his Letters to me.

unjuft to several deserving men of a reputable and useful profeffion, if I did not, on this occafion, acknowledge the fair dealing I have always found amongst them; and profefs my sense of the unjuft prejudice which lies against them; whereby they have been, hitherto, unable to procure that fecurity for their property, which they see, the rest of their fellow-citizens enjoy. A prejudice in part arifing from the frequent Piracies, (as they are called) committed by members of their own body. But fuch kind of members no body is without. And it would be hard that this should be turned to the difcredit of the honeft part of the profeffion, who fuffer more from such injuries than any other men. It hath, in part too, arisen from the clamours of profligate fcriblers, ever ready, for a piece of money, to prostitute their bad sense for or against any cause prophane or facred; or in any scandal public or private: These meeting with little encouragement from men of account in the trade (who even in this enlightened age are not the very worft judges or rewarders of merit) apply themselves to people of condition; and support their importunities by false complaints against bookfellers.

But I should now, perhaps, rather think of my own apo logy, than bufy myself in the defence of others. I fhall have some Tartuffe ready, on the first appearance of this edition, to call out again, and tell me, that I fuffer myself to be wholly diverted from my purpose, by these matters lefs fuitable to my clerical profeffion. "Well, but fays a friend, why not "take fo candid an intimation in good part? Withdraw “yourself, again, as you are bid, into the clerical pale ; "examine the records of facred and prophane antiquity; "and, on them, erect a work to the confufion of infide"lity." Why, I have done all this, and more: And hear now what the fame men have said to it They tell me, I

bave wrote to the wrong and injury of religion, and furnished out more bandles for unbelievers. "Oh, now the fecret's out; " and you may have your pardon, I find upon easier terms, " 'tis only, to write no more." -Good Gentlemen! and fhall I not oblige them? They would gladly obstruct my way to those things which every man, who endeavours well in his profeffion, muft needs think he has fome claim to, when he fees them given to those who never did endeavour; at the fame time that they would deter me from taking those advantages which letters enable me procure for myself. If then I am to write no more; (tho' as much out of my profeffion as they may please to reprefent this work, I fufpect their modefty would not infist on a scrutiny of our several applications of this prophane profit and their purer gains) if, I say, I am to write no more, let me at least give the public, who have a better pretence to demand it of me, fome reason for my presenting them with these amufements. Which, if I am not mu h mistaken, may be excufed by the best and faireft examples; and, what is more, may be justified on the furer reafon of things.

The great faint CHRYSOSTOM, a name confecrated to immortality by his virtue and eloquence, is known to have been fo fond of Ariftophanes as to wake with him at his ftudies, and to fleep with him under his pillow and I never heard that this was objected either to his piety or his preaching, not even in those times of pure zeal and primitive religion. Yet, in refpect of Shakespeare's great fenfe, Ariftophanes's beft wit is but buffoonry; and, in comparison of Ariftophanes's freedom's, Shakespeare writes with the purity of a veftal. But they will fay, St. Chryfoftom contracted a fondness for the comic poet for the fake of bis Greek. Το this, indeed, I have nothing to reply. Far be it from me to infinuate fo unfcholarlike a thing, as if we had the fame

ufe for good English that a Greek had for his Attic elegance. Critic Kufter, in a tafte and language peculiar to grammari ans of a certain order, hath decreed, that the Hiftory and Chronology of Greek words is the moft folid entertainment of a Man of Letters.

I fly, then, to a higher example, much nearer home and ftill more in point, the famous univerfity of OXFORD. This illuftrious body, which hath long fo juftly held, and, with fuch equity, difpenfed, the chief honours of the learn ed world, thought good letters fo much interested in correct editions of the best English writers, that they, very lately, in their public capacity, undertook one, of this very author, by fubfcription. And if the editor hath not difcharged his task with suitable abilities for one fo much honoured by them, this was not their fault but his, who thrust himself into the employment. After fuch an example, it would be weakening any defence to feek further for authorities. All that can be now decently urged is the reason of the thing; nd this I fhall do, more for the fake of that truly venerable body than my own.

Of all the literary exercitations of fpeculative men, whether defigned for the use or entertainment of the world, there are none of so much importance, or what are more our immediate concern, than those which let us into the knowledge of our nature. Others may exercise the reason or amuse the imagination; but these only can improve the heart, and form the human mind to wifdom. Now, in this science, our Shakespeare is confeffed to oc.upy the foremost place; whether we confider the amazing fagacity with which he inveftigates every hidden spring and wheel of human action; or his happy manner of communicating this knowledge, in the juft and living paintings which he has given us of all our paffions, appetites and purfuits. Thefe afford a leffon which

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