ABSTRACT
To the CRAFTSMAN, SIR, I am appointed by several gentlemen who frequent this coffee-house to return thanks to your correspondents Theatricus and X.Y.Z.1 for dissipating an absurd delusion that we have laboured under for several years. The great popularity of a favourite performer so far misled us that, inconsiderately, we acquiesced in all the fulsome incense that adulation has offered up to this theatrical idol. Every character he assumed, we accustomed ourselves to think, appeared with all the advantages of genius and judgment. To persons under this state of deception the appeals to common sense and common grammatical knowledge lately made in
your paper gave, as you may imagine, no small alarm. A consultation was held, at which each member appeared extremely staggered that he should have been so egregiously imposed upon (supposing the criticisms of those writers to be sufficiently authorized), but as our memories did not serve us to clear up the point it was agreed that we should go to the tragedy of Hamlet this evening and each man, furnished with a printed play and a pencil, mark such improprieties in respect of speaking as Mr G-—might possibly fall into. We are just returned from the theatre, and after comparing our observations seize this first opportunity of acknowledging (not without some emotions of shame) the ridiculous error we have so long adopted, and profess ourselves converts to the good sense and judicious observations which display themselves so eminently in the letters written by the gentlemen who have lately honoured your paper with their animadversions. That we may not appear proselytes upon insufficient motives it will be proper to communicate a few of the numberless inaccuracies which stand in array before us upon drawing out a list of each person’s remarks. It would, we apprehend, prove tiresome should we transcribe a third part of those mutilated lines of unhappy Shakespeare, and as it would give us great concern to encroach on the time and patience of your readers I am directed to present them at present with only TWENTY, which are as follows, viz:
1. Oh that this too too solid-flesh would melt. [1.2.129.]
2. Or that the everlasting had not fixtHis canon ’gainst self-slaughter. [1.2.131f.]
3. As if increase of appetite had grownBy what it fed on. [1.2.144f.]
4. I think it was to see-my mother’s wedding. [1.2.178.]
5. Their eyes purging-thick amber and plumb-tree gum. [2.2.197.]
6. He would drown-the stage with tears. [2.2.555.]
7. Or e’re this,
I should have fatted-all the region kites With this slave’s offal. [2.2.573ff.]
8. that presently They have proclaimed-their malefactions. [2.2.587f.]
9. I’ll have these players Play something like-the murther of my father. [2.2.590f.]
10. The play’s the thing, Wherein I’ll catch-the conscience of the king. [2.2.600f.]
11. Whether it is nobler in the mind, to sufferThe slings and arrows, &c. [3.1.57f.]
12. And makes us rather bear-those ills we have. [3.1.81.]
13. Let not ever The soul of Nero enter-this firm bosom. [3.2.383ff.]
14. When church-yards yawn, and hell itself breaths out-contagion to the world. [3.2.378ff.]
15. O such a deed, As from the body of contraction plucks-[3.4.45f.]
16. The very soul, and sweet religion makesA rhapsody of words. [3.4.47f.]
17. Proclaim no shame, When the compulsive-ardour gives the charge. [3.4.85f.]
18. Mother, for love of grace, Lay not that flattering-unction to your soul. [3.4.144f.]
19. It will but skin and film-the ulcerous place. [3.4.147.]
20. Why may not imagination trace-the noble Blood of Alexander, &c. [5.1.197f.]
At the same time that we thus yield to conviction, let us hope that your correspondents will continue their endeavours to remove the films of inattention and prejudice; more especially as they have every encouragement to persist in that liberal design by the impression already made on the public, and the disposition to be undeceived which all ranks of people now universally manifest.
