PREFACE.
The Essay on the Life and Works of Shakspeare, which I reprint in the present volume, appeared for the first time as an Introduction to the French edition of Shakspeare’s complete works, which was published at Paris in 1821. This edition was based upon the translation of Shakspeare’s plays which was commenced in 1776 by Le Tourneur, and which, at that period, gave rise to such animated disputes in the literary world, and especially in the Correspondence of Voltaire and of La Harpe. In 1821 I undertook to edit this translation of Shakspeare’s principal works, and I revised six tragedies, ten historical dramas, and three comedies. M. De Barante kindly assisted me by translating “Hamlet;” and M. Amédée Pichot, who is so thoroughly acquainted with England and English literature, under- took to revise all the remaining plays.
Since that period other translations of Shakspeare, both partial and complete, in prose and in verse, have been published. Whatever their merit may be, they have not been successful; and no one will ever succeed, except imperfectly, in transfusing into our language, with their true character and full effect, the works of this prodigious genius. This arises not only from the fact that every translation must necessarily be imperfect and insufficient, but also on account of the particular turn of Shakspeare’s mind and style, as well as that of his national tongue. Shakspeare is excellent in substance, but deficient in form; he
