THE READER'S SHAKESPEARE: HIS DRAMATIC WORKS CONDENSED, CONNECTED, AND EMPHASIZED FOR SCHOOL, COLLEGE, PARLOUR, AND PLATFORM. IN THREE VOLUMES. AUTHOR OF "THE BY DAVID CHARLES BELL, THEORY OF ELOCUTION,' "THE CLASS-BOOK OF POETRY," &C., &C. VOL. I. HISTORICAL PLAYS, ENGLISH AND ROMAN. NEW YORK: FUNK AND WAGNALLS COMPANY, 1895. the eye and to the mind: these Abridgments are the voice and ear-to facilitate the much-prized b of Reading Aloud. For this purpose, all Shakes be, for the first time, condensed, connected, em tated, on a uniform plan. This first Volume consists exclusively of all t English and Roman: the second Volume will cont and Romantic Plays; and the third Volume all t Each Play is preceded by a brief Narrative, his the principal Scenes, Incidents and Characters, 1 but of the secondary plots, are connected by e the Text has been carefully condensed, collate making allowance for the prime necessities of ex pression. Important and emphatic words are specially m critic line placed before the word, to facilitate, proved punctuation, an easy comprehension and of the text. Explanatory notes are frequently in Each play is so condensed that it may be rea hour, or an hour and a half. The various readings of the early quartos and not been overlooked. In important verbal chang is frequently referred to-in the notes marked O ing). These Condensations are intended for use in men's higher Schools and Colleges-for Private an and for Public or Platform delivery. By the necting narratives, they can be readily adapted dramatic representation; while, as a compact c Speeches, and Dialogues, they form a Vade-mecum tice. For the Family Reading of Shakespeare's Play expurgation, condensation, and compression are edged. Ben Jonson, the contemporary and riva and Dramatist, has thus written, in his "Explora "I remember, the players have often mentione Shakespeare, that in his writing (whatsoever h blotted out a line. My answer hath been, Woul thousand. Which they thought a malevolent spe posterity this, but for their ignorance, who choos to commend their friend by, wherein he most faul mine own candour: for I loved the man, and do h on this side idolatry, as much as any. He was, (i of an open and free nature; had an excellent phar and gentle expressions, wherein he flowed with tha times it was necessary he should be stopped. in his own power; would the rule of it had been he redeemed his vices with his virtues. There wa to be praised than to be pardoned." The little unobtrusive mark which is placed be word or point of the sentence, does not demand' only where there is doubt as to the special meanin tion should be appealed to. Emphatic words req because they call attention to directly antitheti oblique, indirect, or inferential meanings: but s admit of a balanced application of stress because superior, being absolute or positive; while the oth tive or relative. There is plenty of scope for dif and variety of judgment: the "Sir Oracles" of dif are not difficult either to be found or confuted. T sional experience of more than fifty years may en markings to some consideration. This Book will be found useful not to young Re all who wish to travel with comfort a long journey it appeals in the first place to intellectuality and j in its practice, effectually destroy monotony and m ery; but it leaves undirected the higher powers of "Action, and utterance, and the power of s "To stir men's blood." In the School-room, it will tend to check the mea the shrill discord, or the unintelligent gabble of th lesson; it will attract by its variety, harmony and the memory with its lessons of wit and wisdom: in it will enable age and experience to become dire source of instruction and amusement: to the Stu wearied of Greek and Latin prosody, it will en "educational" fact that the manner of speech is a as the matter: it will impart vigour, variety, and grad pelling monotony of the Clerical Reader: to the Pla it presents condensed forms of dramatic action and to the Teacher-especially if he is enabled to drill Single Reading,-it may be used as a theme for e scholastic exercise and instruction.-If these adva ized to the young, what may not be expected in habit becomes a second nature? "Men are but children of a larger growth "There were two books," says Archbishop Shar an Archbishop,-the Bible, and Shakespeare." T be added a 'judicial record of the late Lord Coleridg for obvious reasons, all Greek and Latin writers every one (including them) I should myself plac inexhaustible store-house of wisdom, instruction, tion; indispensable to any one who has anything t or writing I knew well. a great Advocate. to be said, that perhaps he did not know much lav a great deal of Shakespeare. And a great Judge v and Shakespeare, when this was repeated to him s in a lawyer, a little law was desirable, yet, if that the next best thing to have was a knowledge of Sl So, bon voyage to the "Reader's Shakespeare." 1517, THIRTY-FIFTH STREET, WEST WASHINGTON, D. C. |