The School-Shakspeare; or, plays and scenes from Shakspeare illustrated for the use of Schools, with glossarial notes, selected from the best annotators, by the Rev. J. R. Pitman, etc

Front matter

THE SCHOOL - SHAKSPEARE ; OR, PLAYS AND SCENES FROM SHAKSPEARE, ILLUSTRATED FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS, WITH ©.ogsar.al Notes, SELECTED FROM THE BEST ANNOTATORS, BY THE REV. J. R. PITMAN, A.M. ALTERNATE EVENING PREACHER AT THE FOUNDLING AND MAGDALEN HOSPITALS. LONDON : PRINTED BY J. F. DOVE, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE; FOR C. RICE, 123, MOUNT STREET, BERKELEY SQUARE 1822. TO MRS. SIDDONS. Madam, If this volume require any other recommendations than purity of intention and utility of purpose, I might be tempted to seek shelter under the sanction of a name, which, in the present age, is identified with Shakspeare. But, since, in every department of letters, the greatest names are unable to afford protection to injudicious or ill-directed labours ; I will candidly avow, that, in availing myself of permission to inscribe these pages to Mrs. Siddons, I am influenced by no other motive than the anxiety of tendering the tribute of admiration, which is due to a mind so singularly gifted.

In selecting a few notes, which might facilitate the study of Shakspeare to my youthful readers, I have often paused, with regretting, that the poet's living commentator has been withdrawn from them. The exultation of Volumnia, in the triumphal entry of her son ; the dauntless innocence of Hermione, living only for the vindication of honour ; the despair of Cordelia, hanging over the body of her heart-broken father; the meek simplicity of Desdemona, sinking in the lassitude of grief; the severe purity of the high-minded Isabella ; the indignation of Constance, summoning even kings to her lowly throne of sorrow; the matronly dignity of Queen Katharine ; the unearthly and terrific sublimity of Lady Macbeth ; — these are emotions, for the illustration of which the glossary is of no avail : the commentators, to whom alone we must then have recourse, are, the expressive eye, — the obedient gesture, — the varying countenance, — the tragic step, — the voice, which is attuned to the fitful and capricious workings of the mind.

Your entire possession DEDICATION. of these rare gifts has been quickened with an intellect, that can suitably portray the conceptions even of Shakspeare ; and, by a powerful magic, impel the spectator to surrender himself to a fancied reality of scene, and to attest his sense of the illusion by the unimpeachable testimony of his tears. But I will abstain from the language of praise, which, from its want of novelty, must be offensive, — and which is daily offered by abler eulogists. Yet, let me congratulate you, that the voice of public commendation is uninterrupted by any discordant sound of rivalry and envy : even they, whose professional reputation might, perchance, seem eclipsed by your brighter lustre, are the foremost in la menting that void, which has been occasioned by your re tirement into private bfe.