ady beginning to do, her rightful
claim to a high and honourable place in our glorious literature.

THE TEXT.

The text of the dramatic work is primarily based upon the edition of
1724, four volumes, by far the best and most reliable edition of the
collected theatre. Each play, however, has been carefully collated with
the original quartos, some of which are of excessive rarity, and if, in
the case of any divergence, the later reading is preferred, reason why
is given in the Textual Notes upon that specific passage. To the
Dramatis Personae are in each case added those characters which hitherto
were negligently omitted: I have, further, consistently numbered the
scenes and supplied (where necessary) the locales. In the order of the
plays the 1724 edition has been followed as preserving the traditional
and accepted arrangement. The only change herein made is the
transferring of _The Emperor of the Moon_ from Vol. IV to Vol. Ill, and
the placing of _The Amorous Prince_ before _The Widow Ranter_, so that
the two posthumous plays may thus be found in their due order together
at the end of Vol. IV.

With regard to metrical division, I have (unless a special note on any
one particular line draws attention to the contrary) in this difficult
matter followed the first quartos, as at this point 1724 proves not so
satisfactory, and prints much as prose which the earlier separate
editions give as verse. A notable instance may be found in _The Amorous
Prince_. To the above rule I adhere so strictly as even not to divide
into lines several scenes in _The Widow Ranter_ and _The Younger
Brother_ which are palpably blank verse, but yet which are not so set in
the quartos of 1690 and 1696. I felt that the metrical difficulties and
kindred questions involved were so capable of almost infinite
variations, that to attempt a new and decisive text in this matter would
not merely be hazardous but also unproductive of any real benefit or
ultimately permanent result.

The valuable Dedications and Prefaces, never before given in the
collected editions, are here reprinted for the first time from the
originals. With regard to the novels the first separate edition has in
every case been collated. When impossible, however, so to do (as in the
exception of _Oroonoko_), the earliest accessible text has been taken,
and if any difficulty arose, all editions of any value whatsoever were
likewise consulted. For _La Montre_ (_The Lover's Watch_)