Notes and Queries, Number 187, May 28, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 187, May 28, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
That well-worn quotation, "who shall decide when doctors disagree," must,
we should think, invariably suggest itself to the reader of every new book
upon the subject of Shakspeare's text. A few months since MR. COLLIER gave
to the world a volume of _Notes and Emendations from Early Manuscript
Corrections in a Copy of the Folio 1632_[1], which was hailed by many,
ourselves among the number, as a most valuable contribution to Shakspearian
literature. From this favourable view of these manuscript emendations, many
whose opinions upon such matters deserve the highest respect at once avowed
their dissent; and we now find that we have to add to this number MR.
SINGER, who has given us the result of his examination of them in a volume
entitled _The Text of Shakspeare vindicated from the Interpolations and
Corruptions advocated by John Payne Collier, Esq., in his Notes and
Emendations_. No one can put forth higher claims to speak with authority on
any points connected with Shakspeare than MR. SINGER, who has devoted a
life to the study of his writings; and none can rise from a perusal of his
book without recognising in it evidence of MR. SINGER'S fitness for editing
the works of our great dramatist, and feeling anxious for his revised
edition of them. But we think many will regret that, while pointing out the
Notes and Emendations from which he dissents, MR. SINGER should not have
noticed those which he regards with favour; and that, in his anxiety to
vindicate the purity of Shakspeare's text from the anonymous emendator, he
should have embodied that vindication in language, which, though we are
quite sure it is unintentional on his part, gives his book almost a
personal character, instead of one purely critical.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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