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THE

PLAYS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

VOLUME the FIRST,

CONTAINING,

The TEMPEST.

A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT's DREAM,
The TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA,

KANTONS
BIBLIO VEK

LUZERN.

DUBLIN:

Printed for A. LEATHLEY, C. WYNNE, P. WILSON,
J. EXSHAW, H. SAUNDERS, J. POTTS, S. WATSON,
J. MITCHELL, and J. WILLIAMS.

MDCCLXVI.

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PREFACE.

HAT praifes are without reafon lavished on the dead, and that the honours due only to excellence are paid to antiquity, is a complaint likely to gbe always continued by thofe, who,

being able to add nothing to truth, hope for eminence from the herefies of paradox; or thofe, who, being forced by difappointment upon confolatory expedients, are willing to hope from pofterity what the prefent age refuses, and flatter themselves that the regard which is yet denied by envy, will be at last bestowed by time.

Antiquity, like every other quality that attracts the notice of mankind, has undoubtedly votaries that reverence it, not from reafon, but from prejudice. Some feem to admire indifcriminately whatever has been long preferved, without confidering that time has fometimes VOL. I. co-operated

A

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