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Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Appendix D

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William Shakespeare2704354Shakespeare's Sonnets — Appendix D1923Edward Bliss Reed

APPENDIX D

The Text of the Present Edition

Although two of the sonnets in this collection, Nos. 138 and 144, were included in The Passionate Pilgrim, 1599, the first edition of the sonnets is the quarto which appeared in 1609 and which sold for five pence. This quarto was not sanctioned by Shakespeare; it is full of obvious errors and yet it is the accepted text. By permission, the text of this edition is that of Craig's Oxford Shakespeare, published by the Oxford Press, which follows the first quarto, correcting its mistakes. In a few cases the editor has departed from Craig's text, preferring the reading of the first quarto or some generally accepted emendation. Minor changes of spelling and punctuation are not recorded, but all other variations from Craig's text are given below, where Craig's readings are printed after the colon.

10. 1. For shame deny Q: For shame! deny

16. 10. Which this Time's pencil,: Which this, Time's pencil,

16. 13. yourself, Q: yourself

26. 14. Till then, Q: Till then

31. 1. hearts: hearts, Q

59. 11. Whether Q: Whe'r

66. 14. Save that to die Q: Save that, to die

75. 9. Sometime all Q: Sometime, all

84. 1. most, Q: most?

84. 2. you, Q: you?

84. 4. grew?: grew.

84. 8. story.: story,

85. 3. Reserve Q: Deserve

88. 5. weakness being Q: weakness, being

110. 9. have Q: save

114. 3. say Q: say,

141. 6. feeling Q: feeling,