PREFACE.

6

IN the preparation of this edition of the Merchant of Venice, the Editor has had no such aid as was supplied to him, for the Julius Cæsar and Henry VIII., by North's Plutarch,' and the Chronicles' of Hall and Holinshed. The present play, therefore, as compared with the two others, has demanded a greater amount of reflection, a more careful attention to the significancy of the thick coming. fancies' of the poet's mind. It is hoped, however, that no difficulty in Shakspeare's language is here left without elucidation or comment, that many of his expressions, possessing a force or import very liable to be overlooked, have received original illustration, and that his allusions to Scripture, classical antiquity, peculiarities of his own age, &c., will be found distinctly indicated and explained. In the Introductory Remarks, the supposed sources of the plot are pretty fully exhibited, the general merits of the play discussed, and the characters of Shylock, Antonio, Portia, and Jessica, severally estimated.

There is one feature characterising many of the notes in the Editor's Henry VIII. and Julius Cæsar, and some of those contained in the present publication, the nature of which he finds to be sometimes misunderstood, and now therefore wishes to place in a proper light. While, in every instance in which the text is at all obscure, or likely to be misapprehended, he has endeavoured either to give the true sense, or to select the most admissible interpretation which modern criticism may have proposed, he has frequently given interpretations of phraseology that is in itself easily intelligible. In cases of this kind the object has generally been to suggest some appreciation of the philological import of the language,

an import which may not be very obvious, even when the idea meant to be conveyed is in no danger of being mistaken. Occasional examination of the grammatical character of phrases that are idiomatic, elliptical, &c., is useful as a mental discipline, and may very properly be admitted as one mode of illustration in endeavouring to adapt such works as those of Shakspeare to the minds of youthful students, and to the use of schools.* And further, it is believed

* At the Oxford Middle-Class examination of 1861, in an excellent set of Questions on Shakspeare's Julius Cæsar, one was the following:- 'Explain the constructions, sit thee down as lief not be — you ought not walk — what trade art thou? — if thou path thy native semblance on - who is that knocks? -you are the first that rears your hand.'

Of these constructions every one had been distinctly explained in

that the habit of appreciating language, as to its grammatical construction, will often promote a readier discernment of the significancy and force of particular passages, than is likely to be exercised by persons unused to such appreciation. It is, therefore, hoped that those notes which by some may be thought unnecessary, will prove to others suggestive of some useful considerations, and that these editions of Shakspeare's plays will be found to include a very ample amount of useful and interesting illustration for the general reader.

Of the Merchant of Venice, a few lines that, on the score of delicacy, would have been objectionable in relation to some purposes of this edition, are omitted.

the Editor's notes on Julius Cæsar; and the same is to be said of the four passages of which an explanation of the meaning was proposed in another Question; while, for the remaining Questions, the Notes, taken along with the Introductory Remarks, had anticipated very nearly all the details requisite to compose full and appropriate

answers.

The Notes and Introductory Remarks on Henry VIII. had a similar relation to the University Paper of 1860.