ch, present a most soothing and agreeable type of death
and the grave, under their Christian phase. I was always at a loss to
understand why this was done on Thursday, instead of on Saturday; the
latter being the day on which Our Lord rested in the sepulchre.
A.M.
* * * * *
QUERIES ANSWERED, NO. 7.
A new _blunder_ of Mr. Malone.--I love the memory of Edmond Malone,
albeit he sometimes committed blunders. He committed a pitiable blunder
when he broke his bow in shooting at the worthless Samuel Ireland; and
he committed an {404} irreparable blunder when he whitewashed the
monumental effigy of the matchless Shakspere. Of the blunder ascribed to
him by a reverend querist (No. 14. p. 213) he was quite innocent.
Before we censure an author or editor, we should consult his _own_
edition. He cannot be answerable for the errors of any other impression.
Such, at least, is _my_ notion of critical equity.
I shall now state the plain facts. Malone, in the first instance,
printed the spurious declaration of John _Shakspear_ in an _imperfect
state_. (_Plays and Poems of W.S._, 1790, vol. i. part ii. p. 162.) He
was soon afterwards enabled to complete it. (Ibid. vol. i. part ii. p.
330.) Steevens reprinted it entire, and without comment. (_Plays of
W.S._, 1793, vol. ii. p. 300.) Now the editor of the Irish reimpression,
who must have omitted to consult the edition of Steevens, merely
committed a _blunder_ in attempting to unite the two fragments as first
published by Mr. Malone.
There was no _audacious fabrication_ on the occasion--there is no
_mystery_ in the case! (No. 24. p. 386.) So, to stop the current of
misconception, and economise space on future occasions, I venture to
repeat a few words in suggesting as a canon of criticism:--_Before we
censure an author or editor we should consult his_ own _edition_.
BOLTON CORNEY.
* * * * *
REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.
_Compendyous Olde Treatyse._--"F.M." (No. 18. p. 277.) will find this
tract reprinted (with the exception of the preface and verses) in Foxe's
_Acts and Monuments_; a portion once peculiar to the first edition of
1563, p. 452., but now appearing in the reprint of 1843, vol. iv. p.
671-76., which may be of some service in the absence of the original
tract.
NOVUS.
_Hordys_ (No. 5. p. 157.).--I have waited till now in hopes of seeing an
answer from some more competent pen than my own to th
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