( 22 )
adopting the few emendations of manifeſt errors of the preſs, which, amidſt ſome thouſand innovations and corruptions, were made by the editor; and which, if they had not been made by him, would unqueſtionably have been made by ſome other perſon? The plan which I adopted for my edition, as far as relates to the text, was very ſimple. I began by aſcertaining what were the authentick copies. I then formed my text upon thoſe copies; from which (with the exception mentioned in my preface) I never knowingly deviated without apprizing the reader by a note. All emendations therefore which were admitted, from whatever quarter taken, are regularly aſcribed to him by whom they were made; a piece of juſtice which had not been done in former editions: and neither the caprice of an editor or commentator, or his general inability for his taſk, prevented me from adopting corrections ſuggeſted by him, if they were manifeſtly right. Thus, ſome emendations have been taken even from Pope and Hanmer, as well as from the editor of the ſecond folio; though all theſe editors have with almoſt equal licentiouſneſs corrupted the author's text; but they are adopted, not becauſe their books are of any authority but becauſe the emendations themſelves are evidently juſt;
