FROM A PENCIL PORTRAIT BY AMY OTIS
OUR GREAT SHAKSPERE CRITIC
THE LATE HORACE HOWARD FURNESS
NOVEMBER 2, 1833—AUGUST 13, 1912
BY TALCOTT WILLIAMS
ONLY a great man can accomplish a great task. For fifteen of Shakspere’s most familiar plays, Horace Howard Furness condensed the criticism of three centuries for each play in a single volume, save “Hamlet,” which has two.[5] From 6000 to 8000 works have been published on Shakspere. All on each play is brought within the compass of its volume. Who holds this volume holds the fruits of all past criticism and comment on the play.
Mere industry can do much, but mere industry could never build the monument of these volumes. I confess I never look at the impressive row without amazement at the labor for which they stand. It would be much, if this were all. Long labor of this order grinds like a glacier over a writer’s style and individuality. Textual criticism saps men. There is a certain form of stupidity never found except in “notes.”
Small have continual plodders ever won
Save bare authority, from others’ books.