The student's topical Shakespeare. Thirty-seven plays, analyzed and topically arranged for the use of clergymen, lawyers, students, etc

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Preface

In presenting this book to the public I feel impelled to state somewhat specifically the object I had in view in its compilation. I do not lay claim to superhuman disinterestedness. lago's advice to Koderigo, "put money in thy purse," is by no means in my opinion a soul-damning heresy ; I should only be too glad if this venture enabled me to act upon the wily "Venetian's advice with unaccustomed frequency. But if the hope of pecuniary gain had been the controlling motive the book to which the labor of so many years has been devoted would never have been put in type.

The book was begun as an aid in lecturing to a college class on English literature. Its growth, and its obviously increasing value as it grew, suggested that it might perhaps be as useful to others as I had found it to be to myself.

I make no claim to being a critic of the great author whose words I have so often "rolled as a sweet morsel under my tongue;" nor do I make any pretension to be able to determine ex cathedra any questions of texts, or the value of various readings. In no sense do I aspire to belong to the illustrious guild of Shakespearean scholars. Antony's friend Ventidius never spoke more wisely than when he said, —

" Better leave undone than by our deed acquire Too high a fame."— ^. C, III : 1.

Hence this disclaimer. I have simply endeavored, as a plain man in a plain way, to put the thoughts of Shakespeare at the command of every ordinary English reader.

In determining what portions of our great author were unsuitable for my purpose I had, of course, to take my own judgment as my exclusive guide. My English origin and training may have made me less fastidious than I otherwise might have been. Others doubtless could have done much better, but I have done the best I could. If I am only the means of making the best of Shakespeare's sayings more generally " household words " I shall have achieved one of the great objects at which I aimed.

I beg the indulgence of Shakespearean critics in the matter of my sub-headings. They are not intended as comments on the meaning of the poet, or as in any sense fixing the specific meaning of the passages to which they are attached ; they are only designed to be aids in finding any desired passage. Of course a concordance would eflfect this with even greater certainty, but where there is one reader with a concordance there are thousands without. To sum up what I wish to say in this connection, I have not aspired to be regarded as an acute critic, nor an erudite commentator ; all my ambition has been to be recognized as a painstaking and reliable compiler.

I commenced my work with Boydell's sumptuous folios before me. I soon found that this edition was too great a rarity for popular use ; I therefore laid my work

VI

PREFACE.

aside, and began anew. In selecting the edition to which finally I have made reference for the verification of the quotations given I was not influenced by the conviction that it was the best to be secured; I am convinced that there are many equally good, and some that are incomparably better. The editions of Richard Grant White, Hudson, liolfe, and especially Furness's New Variorum, are an honor to American scholarship, and entitle these erudite men to high literary fame. These editions, however, are either only published in part, or are confined to the libraries of scholarly men ; I selected tlierefore an edition more generally at the command of ordinary readers.

I have taken the greatest possible precaution against errors ; some have, however, doubtless crept in. The last revision of the electrotyped plates revealed a few that had escaped the previous revisions. These have all been carefully corrected, and as new editions may be demanded the work of correction will still go on. In this I hope to be assisted by the suggestions of every lover of literature into whose hands the book may fall.

To facilitate the finding of certain passages they have, in some cases, been repeated under synonymical headings ; in a very few instances they have been even re-repeated. This, however, instead of being a blemish may be regarded as making the book the more valuable.

To secure typographical accuracy the proof has not only been repeatedly read by myself, but it has also been subjected to a careful revision by the Eev. Edward A. Manning, whose long practice as a proof reader entitles him to be regarded as a trustworthy expert. I gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to this kind and painstaking gentleman.

Inviting a manly criticism, and trusting implicitly to the generous treatment of all true litterateurs, I cast my Shakespearean bread upon the waters, convinced that, however imperfectly my work may have been done, the text of my great author will illume the pathway and quicken the intellectual life of all to whom its precious treasures may come.

Ulyss. * * "No man is the lord of anything,

(Though in and of him there be much consisting,)

Till he communicate his parts to others :

Nor doth he of himself know them for aught

Till he behold them form'd in the applause

Where they are extended; which, like an arch, reverberates

The voice again; or, like a gate of steel

Fronting the sun, receives and renders back

His figure and his heat." — T. C, III: 3.

Boston, 1880.

HENRY J. FOX.