Appendix D
The Text of the Present Edition
The text of the present volume is based, by permission of the Oxford University Press, upon that of the Oxford Shakespeare, edited by the late W. J. Craig. Craig's text has been carefully collated with the Shakespeare Folio of 1623, and the following deviations have been introduced:
1. The stage directions of the Folio have been restored. Necessary words and directions, omitted by the Folio, are added within square brackets.
2. Spelling has been normalized to accord with modern English practice; e.g., Blackfriars, Sandys, everywhere, warlike, vainglory, reverend, sovereign (instead of Black-Friars, Sands, every where, war-like, vain-glory, rev'rend, sov'reign). The punctuation has been largely revised, and a number of old-fashioned Folio forms restored; e.g., th' effects, t' aspire, y' are (you're), burthen (burden).
8. The following changes of text have been introduced, usually in accordance with Folio authority. The readings of the present edition precede the colon, while Craig's readings follow it.
I. i. 42–45 All was royal . . . his full function (assigned to Buckingham F): (assigned to Norfolk)
47 As you guess (assigned to Norfolk F): (assigned to Buck.)
63 a' (O F): he
78 upon,—: upon;
80 in,—: in
120 venom'd-mouth'd F: venom-mouth'd
144 till 't F: till it
ii. 32 longing F: 'longing
57 compels F: compel
147, 148 Henton F: Hopkins
