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I have compared his historical plays with thofe biftories, from whence he certainly took them, and find him ufually very exact, (fomes few points of chronology excepted.) The emendations which I have attempted in the text, are put in the way of query and I have not taken upon me dogmatically to affert any thing, without sufficient warrant for fo doing, Merrano 157′

Hiftorical facts will certainly stand the teft, efpecially when proper vouchers are produced in fupport of them.net

I have generally paffed over the places already noted; and where I have diffented from any of the editors, I hope I have done it with fuch tenderness, as not to give the least offence.

I am fo far from thinking my own notes the beft, that I fhall with great readiness and pleafure, retract any mistakes, that are pointed out to me, in a candid and good natur'd manner.

Hard words I am far from approving let them come from what quarter foever; let the persons be never so much dignified or distinguished; efpecially when given without the leaft imaginable provocation; and I fhould disclaim any correfpondence or communication with fuch perfons as Lam convinced, that fuch prejudices generally arise from the malevolent spirit of party and such afperfers cannot act in any case, where party is concerned, either with justice or honour.toys ons new of Bow row, saatt

For the man of honour must be a perfon poffeffed of all those moral and intellectual perenisla

fections,

fections, which make a confummate gentleman. Though not highly defcended, she must have greatnefs enough to raise his hame and if ad-vanced to a high station, he will be prudent, sand not vain glorious if he is powerful, he will belas just and punctual as truth itself: generous and yet humble, magnanimous and brave, and yet compaffionate and merciful in fhort, he will have fuch a lively fenfe of honour, as to fcorn to bdolany thing that mifbecomes himself, difparages his reason, or intrenches upon religion : and is as far advanced above common, and plebeian fouls, as they themselves above the brutes.

Nay, fuch a perfon will always act the Chriftian; and follow Saint Paul's rule of charity. 113 That thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth ise. He will not be 16 apt to fufpect the worst, nor to wreft any thing "to an ill conftruction,but to hear a falfe ac

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cufation difproved, and the innocent thereby 34 vindicated: fuch a seasonable discovery of truth, will certainly be a matter of rejoicing to him," -Bute to bego pardon for this digreffion. I Ycannot affirm with the last editor, that Shake

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speare was among my younger amusements : though I ownbread him now and then, to 10 unbend myself from more ferious application." Nor do I think that any difcredit can arise even 1to a clergyman, for writing notes upon ShakeSpeare; nor will he want the authority of Saint Chryfoftom to bear him out; provided he makes - no comment upon the obscene paffages, or ex

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plains innocent ones in an obfcene manner and should imagine the most learned, and cele brated professor of divinity, (or in the modern phrafe, of the occult fciences) would not have the leaft ground for fhame on fuch an account. si I am now to make my acknowledgments to thofe worthy gentlemen, who afforded me their friendly, and kind affiftance in this work.

And the first to whom I am indebted, is the reverend Mr. Smith of Harleston in Norfolk, the most friendly, and communicative man living, who was greatly affiftant to Sir Thomas Hanmer in his edition of Shakespeare; as he was to me in Hudibras; for which he has been spitefully call'd my coadjutor: but by a gentleman, whofe flander ftands for nothing with every candid, and ingenuous perfon.

Dr. Tathwell, a learned, and ingenious phyfi. cian at Stamford in Lincolnshire, favoured me Mikewife with his affiftance.

His critical skill in the Clafficks, enabled him to point out to me feveral beauties in ShakeSpeare.

The notes of a learned and ingenious perfon, dead fome time ago, whom I have diftinguished with the title of Anonymus, (and which were communicated by a very learned friend, to whom I am under great obligations on many accounts) have furnished me with many emendations of the text, and meter.

A few notes were communicated by other friends, to whom (though I am not at liberty

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to mention their names) I take this opportunity of making my acknowledgments,ma bus

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If there is any thing in these notes, (which have coft me no fmall pains,) that may be of ufe to the publick, or fervice to the candid reader, I have my reward.

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ERRAT A.

Pag 38. line 10. read conference. 1. penult, curiofus. `p. 44. I. 20. r. Hieronymo. p. 46. l. 18. r. Puck's. p. 49. l. 16. r. Puck. p. 52. 1. 8. r. tears. p. 58.1. 8. dele tame. p. 64. 1. ult. add, “That we should read, all may to Athens. p. 71. 1. 2. r. riot. p. 75. I. ult. r. probably. p. 87. 1. 18. 1. Dutch. p. 90. 1. 15. del. Id. ib. p. 103. I. 18. r. exempted. p. 104. 1. 9. r. T. p. 118. l. 22. r. 97. p. 119. l. 4. del. genteel, and all the parenthefis. p. 122. l. 12. del. thou. p. 171. 1. ult, r. Pancirolli. p. 187. 1. 2. r. Varenius. p. 212. 1. 4. del. to her. 312 1. 26. aure. p. 332. 1. 15. r. Glareanus. p. 367. 1. 23. r. Sullen's.

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