ADVERTISEMENT. 



The present reprint is a strictly faithful and literal transcript of the edition of 



1613. It has been our wish to perpetuate the original text as the author 



bequeathed it to the world. In this respect it differs essentially from Mr. Arber's 



reprint in his "English Garner." Mr. Arber, on the contrary, has thought it 



expedient to make many changes in the poem, and to introduce into it frequent 



supposed emendations. Thus he has altered the punctuation tliroughout and 



modernised both the orthography and the syntax, robbing the verse, thereby, of 



much of its ancient air and aspect. Instead of J. D- in his customary doublet 



and hose, he has given us a J. D. in the broadcloth of to-day, with all the 



gloss upon it. How far we have a right so to interfere with poets who are no 



longer here to defend themselves and to protect their own — how far it is 



justifiable, to submit them to our individual and arbitrary, not to say dogmatic, 



judgment, is a question we do not take on ourselves to decide. What our 



own personal opinion in the matter is will be deduced from the course we 



have adopted. 



T. W. 



