Where they
originally appeared at mid-paragraph, their approximate position is
shown with an asterisk*.]
The
WORKS
of
_SHAKESPEARE:_
in
Seven Volumes.
Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected;
With NOTES, Explanatory, and Critical:
By Mr. _THEOBALD_.
_I, Decus, i, nostrum: melioribus utere Fatis._
Virg.
_LONDON:_
Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch,
J. Tonson, F. Clay, W. Feales,
and R. Wellington.
MDCCXXXIII.
* * * * *
THE
PREFACE.
The Attempt to write upon SHAKESPEARE is like going into a large, a
spacious, and a splendid Dome thro' the Conveyance of a narrow and
obscure Entry. A Glare of Light suddenly breaks upon you, beyond
what the Avenue at first promis'd: and a thousand Beauties of Genius
and Character, like so many gaudy Apartments pouring at once upon
the Eye, diffuse and throw themselves out to the Mind. The Prospect
is too wide to come within the Compass of a single View: 'tis a gay
Confusion of pleasing Objects, too various to be enjoyed but in a
general Admiration; and they must be separated, and ey'd distinctly,
in order to give the proper Entertainment.
[Sidenote*: A sketch of _Shakespeare's_ general Character.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25