If the Latin and Greek Languages have received the greatest Advantages imaginable from the Labours of the Editors and Criticks of the two last Ages; by whofe Aid and Affistance the Grammarians have been enabled to write infinitely better in that Art than even the preceding Grammarians, who wrote when thofe Tongues flourished as living Languages: I fhould account it a peculiar Happinefs, that, by the faint Affay I have made in this Work, a Path might be chalked out, for abler Hands, by which to derive the fame Advantages to our own Tongue: a Tongue, which, tho' it wants none of the fundamental Qualities of an univerfal Language, yet, as a noble Writer fays, lifps and ftammers as in its Cradle; and has produced little more towards its polishing than Complaints of its Barbarity. Having now run thro' all thofe Points, which I intended should make any Part of this Differtation, and having in my former Edition made publick Acknowledgements of the Affiftances lent me, I fhall conclude with a brief Account of the Methods taken in this. It was thought proper, in order to reduce the Bulk and Price of the Impreffion, that the Notes, where-ever they would admit of it, might be abridged for which Reafon I have, curtailed a great Quantity of fuch, in which Explanations. were too prolix, or Authorities in Support of an Emendation too numerous: and many I have VOL. I. entirely entirely expunged, which were judged rather Verbose and Declamatory, (and, fo, Notes merely of Oftentation;) than neceffary, or inftructive. The few literal Errors, which had efcaped Notice, for want of Revifals, in the former Edition, are here reformed: and the Pointing of innumerable Paffages is regulated, with all the Aceuracy I am capable of. I fhall decline making any farther Declaration of the Pains I have taken upon my Author, because it, was my Duty, as his Editor, to publish him with my beft Care and Judgment: and because, I am fenfible, all fuch Declarations are conftrued to be laying a fort of a Debt on the Publick. As the former Edition has been received with much Indulgence, I ought to make my acknowledgements to the Town for their favourable Opinion of it: and I fhall always be proud to think that Encouragement the best Payment I can hope to receive from my poor Studies. SHAK Extracted from the Registry of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Vicefimo quinto die Martii Anno Regni Domini noftri Jacobi nunc Regis Anglia &c. decimo quarto & Scotia quadragefimo nono, Anno Domini 1616. N the Name of God, Amen. I William IN Shakspeare of Stratford upon Avon in the County of Warwick, Gent. in perfect Health and Memory, God be praised, do make and ordain this my laft Will and Teftament in Manner and Form following; that is to fay: First, I commend my Soul into the Hands of God my Creator, hoping, and affuredly believing, through the only Merits of Jefus Chrift my Saviour, to be made Partaker of Life everlasting; and my Body to the Earth whereof that is made. Item, I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Judith One Hundred and Fifty Pounds of lawful English Money, to be paid unto her in manner and form following; that |