The main rules which we proposed to ourselves in undertaking this
Edition are as follows:
1. To base the text on a thorough collation of the four Folios and of
all the Quarto editions of the separate plays, and of subsequent
editions and commentaries.
2. To give all the results of this collation in notes at the foot of
the page, and to add to these conjectural emendations collected and
suggested by ourselves, or furnished to us by our correspondents, so as
to give the reader in a compact form a complete view of the existing
materials out of which the text has been constructed, or may be emended.
3. In all plays of which there is a Quarto edition differing from the
received text to such a degree that the variations cannot be shown in
foot-notes, to print the text of the Quarto _literatim_ in a smaller
type after the received text.
4. To number the lines in each scene separately, so as to facilitate
reference.
5. To add at the end of each play a few notes, (_a_) to explain such
variations in the text of former editions as could not be intelligibly
expressed in the limits of a foot-note, (_b_) to justify any deviation
from our ordinary rule either in the text or the foot-notes, and
(_c_) to illustrate some passage of unusual difficulty or interest.
6. To print the Poems, edited on a similar plan, at the end of the
Dramatic Works.
An edition of Shakespeare on this plan has been for several years in
contemplation, and has been the subject of much discussion. That such an
edition was wanted seemed to be generally allowed, and it was thought
that Cambridge afforded facilities for the execution of the task such as
few other places could boast of. The Shakespearian collection given by
Capell to the Library of Trinity College supplied a mass of material
almost unrivalled in amount and value, and in some points unique; and
there, too, might be found opportunities for combined literary labour,
without which the work could not be executed at all. At least, if
undertaken by one person only, many years of unremitting diligence would
be required for its completion.
The first step towards the realization of the project was taken in the
spring of 1860, when the first act of _Richard the Second_ was printed
by way of specimen, with a preface signed 'W. G. Clark' and 'H. R.
Luard,'[1] where the principles, on which the proposed Edition should be
based, were set forth with the view 'of obtaining opinions as to the
feasibility of the plan, and suggestions as to its improvement.'
All the persons who answered this appeal expressed their warm approval
of the general plan, and many favoured us with suggestions as to
details, which we have either adopted, or at least not rejected without
careful and respectful consideration.
Since our work was commenced, we have learned that the need of such an
Edition has presented itself, independently, to the minds of many
literary men, and that a similar undertaking was recommended as long ago
as 1852, by Mr Bolton Corney, in _Notes and Queries_, Vol. VI. pp. 2, 3;
and again by a correspondent of the same journal who signs himself
'Este,' Vol. VIII. p. 362.
This concurrence of opinion leads us to hope that our Edition will be
found to supply a real want, while, at the same time, the novelty of its
plan will exempt us from all suspicion of a design to supersede, or even
compete with, the many able and learned Editors who have preceded us in
the same field.
We will first proceed to explain the principles upon which we have
prepared our text.