KING HENRY THE FOURTH. (Part I.)

Summary

PREFACE OF THE EDITOR TO THE TWO PARTS OF HENRY IV.

My late excellent friend, Mrs. Montagu, in her Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakspeare, has paid particular attention to Henry the IVth. In this, as in every part of her work, good principles, judicious argument, and refined taste, appear in all her observations; but I confine myself to the more immediate objects of the present publication,— purity, and decency of expression.

Every person must be sensible, that of all the historical plays, the Two Parts of Henry the IVth axe the most difficult to render fit for family reading. To clear them of all indecent, and indelicate expressions, without destroying the wit and spirit of Falstaff, and without injuring the narrative, is indeed an arduous undertaking; but I hope I may remove many objectionable passages, though I may not be able to render the work perfect. “Est quadam prodire tenus, si non datur ultra.” Feeling the difficulty of the task, I take as a guide the following extract from the just observations of my deceased friend:—

“There are delicacies of decorum in one age unknown to another age: but whatever is immoral, is equally blameable in all ages; and every approach to obscenity, is an offence, for which wit cannot atone, nor the barbarism or the corruption of the times afford an excuse. Mine hostess Quickly is of a species not extinct.