FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   >>  
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
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   >>  



Top keywords:

blunder

 

edition

 

committed

 

Malone

 

editor

 
consult
 

author

 

Before

 
censure
 

QUERIES


reprinted

 

Steevens

 

omitted

 
venture
 

occasions

 
attempting
 

audacious

 

reimpression

 
fabrication
 

future


economise

 

fragments

 

occasion

 

misconception

 

mystery

 

current

 

published

 

Compendyous

 
service
 

original


absence

 
appearing
 

reprint

 

Hordys

 

competent

 

answer

 

waited

 

peculiar

 

REPLIES

 

Treatyse


CORNEY

 

BOLTON

 

suggesting

 
criticism
 

Monuments

 

portion

 
verses
 
preface
 

exception

 

repeat