tency, Shakespeare has very erroneously characterised Louis XI. of France, as " prince soon won with moving words." Some traces of his true character, how. ever, appear in the following scenes, where he is represented as acting both a treacherous and an interested part. Upon the whole it appears to me that the third division of this historic drama, exhibits more numerous and more striking manifestations of the genius of Shakespeare, than the second part. Dr. Warburton has, with his characteristic dogmatism, pronounced all the parts of Henry VI. to be certainly not Shakespeare's. Dr. Johnson, on the other hand, strongly contends that they are his genuine productions. Both these opinions are given without modification or qualification: but the truth secms to be, that Shakespeare has adopted the wellknown performances of former playwrights, as the ground-work of his own productions, introducing much new inat. ter and many entire scenes. In the very curious pamphlet, entitled Greene's Groats-worth of Witte, quoted by Mr. Tyrwhitt, it is said "There is an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers, that, with his tyger's head wrapt in a player's hide,' supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of you: and, being an absolute Johannes Fac-totum, is in his own conceit the only Shake-scene in a country." That the appellation Shake-scene alJudes to Shakespeare, no one will doubt; and it is evident that "his tyger's head wrapt in a player's hide," is a parody upon the following line of York's speech to Margaret. O tyger's heart wrapt in a woman's hide!" Henry VI. Part III. Act 1 Scene 4. And this passage, upon the whole, seems plainly to imply that Shakespeare had made very free with the productions of preceding writers, provoking, as it seems, the lash of criticism by this unusual license. RICHARD III.Act. I. Scene 1. In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. wreaths, Our braised arms hung up for monuments, Our stern alarums chang'd to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures; Grim-visaged War hath smooth'd his wrinkled front; And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds, defects. &c. 2. Marg. Live each of you the subject to And he to you, and all of you to God's. Ibid, Scene 3. The blood of England shall manure the And future ages groan for this foul act; found." Nay, Shakespeare makes King Henry VI. are are counter-balanced by other passages as favourable to the House of Lancaster, Nor is it possible to determine whether he inclined most to the Red or to the White Rose. The truth is, that private individuals had long ceased to take any personal interest in the quarrel. Near a century had elapsed since the contending titles were united in Henry VIII.; and Shakespeare manifestly aimed at nothing more than to make the different characters of his historic dramas speak and act in a manner conformable to historic and dramatic probability. -The envious flood Kept in my soul, and would not let it forth Vast is here a substantive. So, in the Winter's Tale, "Shook hands, as over a vast." And, in Hamlet, "In the dead vast and middle of the night." And in Milton we read “Michael bid sound th' archangel trumpet,-Through the vast of Heaven it sounded, &c." Vasty is the adjective commonly used by Shakespeare as" the vasty deep; vasty Tartar; Arabia's vasty wilds; War's vasty jaws;" &c. Richmond. God and your arms be praised, victorious friends, The day is ours, &c. Although this performance exhibits all the characteristic faults of the great author, they are redeemed by a wonderful display of his highest excellencies. And I can discern in this drama no mixture of spurious and insipid trash, no alloy of adventitious dullness. Notwithstanding the great ability with which the courtship scene between Richard and the Lady Anne is written, the mind revolts at its incredibility; yet, who can wish it obliterated? That in the fourth act between Richard and the queen dowager is of great though not equal merit in point of composition; and, likewise, (were the repetition pardonable) much too far removed from the limits of probability. Both scenes bear the aspect of a too severe satire on the sex-"relenting, shallow, changing, woman!" The character of Richard is exceeded by no effort of dramatic skill in the whole compass of the poet's rich and boundless invention. The vein of humour which pervades almost every scene in which he appears, is a sensible and almost necessary relief to the deep and tragic villainy of his atrocious acts. It may be transiently remarked that, although the greater part of the crimes charged upon Richard rest upon imperfect and presumptive evi. dence, he who could condeinn Rivers, Vaughan, and Grey, and above all Hastings, the great and zealous friend of the House of York, to death, without any pretence of justice or form of trial, must be capable of any wickedness. After all the ingenuity that has been exercised upon the subject, I see no reason to doubt that the infant princes were murdered in the Tower by his command, To believe that one or contrivance. was slain, and the other allowed to escape, is to abandon an easy and probable hypothesis, and to embrace in its stead an arbitrary and extravagant supposition. Dr. Johnson observes, that the allusions to the plays of Henry VI. which occur in Richard III. are no weak proofs of those disputed pieces. This is true, but it is material to remark that there are no allusions whatever to be found in this play to the first part of those doubtful and disputed dramas. HENRY VIII-Act III. Scene 2. I know myself now, and I feel within me But, when the intelligence of the king's O Cromwell!All my glories At the conclusion of this conversation Cromwell thinks it expedient to exhort him to have patience. The cardinal replies, "So I have,-Farewell the hopes of court, my hopes in Heaven do dwell :”thus making his hopes of Heaven the mere mere reluctant substitute of his hopes at court. But such are the paintings of this great artist and imitator of nature, to whom it was given to develope the weaknesses of humanity in their most secret recesses; and at the same time to compel us to pity and sympathise with these frailties, instead of indulging a proud end unfeeling misanthropy. Love thyself last; cherish those hearts that hate thee; Corruption wins not more than honesty. Ibid. Ib. "Though this be good divinity," says Dr. Warburton, "and an admirable precept for our conduct in private life, it was never calculated or designed for the magistrate, or public minister. Nor could this be the direction of a man experienced in affairs to his pupil. It would make a good Christian, but a very ill statesman. The poet wrote " "cherish those hearts that wait thee, i. e. thy dependents." For a churchman and a bishop to insinuate that the duties of the statesman and the Christian are incompatible, is somewhat extraordinary. Shakespeare, it seems, thought differently; at least Wolsey, when he found "his heart new opened," inculcates sentinents far more just and generous. For his advice to Cromwell is "Love thyself last," i.e. make your personal aggran disement your last object. "Cherish those hearts that hate thee," i. e. perhaps has this great critic pronounced so erroneous a judgment. That the genius of Shakespeare, in this admirable drama, comes in and goes out with Catherine is indeed a strange assertion. And not less extraordinary is the succeeding dogma, that "every other part may be easily conceived and easily written." Does the fate of " the noble ruined Buckingham" excite no sympathy? Do the dignified distresses of the fallen cardinal create less powerful emotions, or a fainter interest in the breast, than the virtuous sorrows of the queen? Are there no nice touches and discriminations of character in the portraits of the king? of Cranmer? Cromwell? Gardiner? Surry? &c. Even the subordinate personages in this play are sketched with a pencil so bold and masterly, that they may well be compared to the unfinished drawings of Rembrandt. If the pomp of scenery affords attraction suf. ficient to ensure lasting success on the stage, why does the first part of Henry VI. that drum and trumpet thing," lie unmolested on the shelf? Throughout the entire play of Henry VIII. I perceive no traces of a different and inferior pen. CORIOLANUS.-Act II. Scene 1. Our veiled dames Commit the war of white and damask in Their nicely gawded cheeks to th' wanton spoil Of Phoebus' burning kisses. burton, the ware of white and damask, "We should read," says Dr. Ware. the commodity, the merchandize." "Turn what they will to verse, their toil is vain ; instead of returning evil for evil, embrace Act V. Scene ult.-Dr. Johnson observes "That the play of Henry VIII. still keeps possession of the stage by the splendour of its pageantry. Yet pomp is not the only merit of this play. The meek sorrows and virtuous distress of Catherine have furnished some scenes which may justly be numbered amongst the greatest efforts of tragedy: but the genius of Shakespeare comes in and goes out with Catherine. Every other part may be easily conceived and easily written." How frigid and inadequate is this tribute of applause! In no instance Critics like me shall make it prose again.", If any authority were necessary to support the original reading, we might refer to a parallel passage: Such war of white and red within her cheeks! Taming of the Shrew, Act IV", Ibid. Scene 2. Coriolanus is content to spend his time to end it, i. e. he is willing to employ his whole life in seeking occasions to sacrifice it for his country. We might read, if alteration were requisite or allowable, "So spending time, to spend it." We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power which we have no power to do. Act II. Scene S. Dr. Warburton thinks and with great pros bability bability, that this was intended as a ridicule on the Augustine manner of defining free will in the schools. But Mr. Steevens tells us "that Shakespeare could not mean to ridicule a circumstance of which it was hardly possible for him to have the least knowledge. "He spent his time," this commentator informs us," better than in reading scholastic trash." As Shakespeare's library however consisted of little else than trash, surely scholastic trash, which was the most fashionable kind of trash, would not be excluded. He has, in fact, numerous allusions to those learned disputes of which Mr. Steevens imagines it scarcely possible for him to have the least knowledge. And the trash of the schools may without any undue partiality be deemed at least as edifying as the trash of Marlowe, Heywood, Decker, and Middleton. For I have ever verified my friends, Of whom he's chief, with all the size that verity Would without lapsing suffer. Act V. Scene 2. Dr.Warburton, who changes "verified" to "narrified" without necessity or propriety, has taken occasion from this passage to observe" that Menenius, the present Speaker, and Polonius, in Hamlet, have much of the same natural character; the difference consisting in this accidental circumstance, that the first was a senator in a free state, and the latter a courtier and minister to a king." But the resemblance is wholly imaginary; Menenius is a man of sense, of sagacity, and wit, approaching indeed at times to buffoonery. Polonius is a compound of weakness, conceit, and formality, verging on dotage; swelling with ideas of his own importance; "full of wise saws and modern instances." The power of exciting mirth is perhaps equal in both; but we are diverted with the wit of the one and the folly of the other. Both are cha racters of humour; but Polonius diverts us by a display of the incongruities of his own character; and Menenius by exposing in a lively and striking manner the follies and incongruities of others. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. nient. I have taken them from the Morning Chronicle of March 30. "Mr. Edward Morris said that he could not help relating to the house, the case of an unfortunate woman, tried for stealing above the value of five shillings. He was present at the trial. From many circumstances it was obvious that it was a first offence, and every person in court wished her acquittal. The jury watched the testimony very narrowly, to see if any thing could be laid hold of in her favour. Lord Kenyon told the jury that they were not to take any of the alleviating circumstances into consideration in this verdict, whatever palliation there might me, and the woman was found guilty. Lord Kenyon proceeded to pass the sentence of the law. When the woman heard the sentence of death, she fell lifeless to the ground. Lord Kenyon, who was endowed with great sensibility, instantly called out, good woman, I do not mean to hang you. Will nobody tell the poor woman that she is not to be hanged?" This case made a great impression on himself, as well as every one present. He had frequently heard the same noble lord pass sentence not on the prisoner before him, but on the law." My "Mr. Percival agreed that it would be an important improvement on the law, if judges were not compellcd to pass sentence of death on those who, at the time of passing sentence they should be of opinion, did not deserve a capital punishment." "He could not agree, however, to the suggestion of his honourable friend (Mr. Frankland,) that an option might be given to prosecutors to lay their indictinents capitally, or not, as they chose. If this were the case, no offence would be laid as of a capital nature, unless from some improper feeling on the part of the prosecutor." Does not the last sentence strongly shew that the opinion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer is that the people at large, are, generally speaking, much against the punishment of death for offences? Else why, does he suppose that no offence would be laid as of a cafeeling? That, by far the greater num pital nature, unless from some improper ber, are against this punishment I am well convinced, and most sincerely wish success to the present endeavours of Sir Samuel Romily and his supporters. A CONSTANT READER. Το To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, R. Cobbet has, with great feel from their richer neighbours, the poor are shut out of all remedy for want of this power. It is astonishing that a Mingon propery, called the bill for this purpose could be lost. attention of the public to the infamous conduct of some London Newspapers, particularly of Walter's Times, in giving exparte statements of accusations and trials. The corrupt and oppressive traffic of the papers in this way has Jong been notorious, and it is suspected that thousands per annum are made by some of the London papers in thus buying and selling justice, and in admimistering to the mutual malignity of parties in legal suits! How many men compromise their rights and buy their peace by enormous sacrifices, to avoid the misrepresentations and perversions of these base and unprincipled newspapers! So great an evil ought forthwith to be corrected by a special enactment of the Jegislature, and the crime placed among the highest class of social offences. A sense of personal and of collective dignity would he thus maintained; and corruption would be nearly annihilated; and with it the immoralities so degrading and so destructive to the poor. 2. A reform in the laws re-pecting debtor and creditor; and this seems to be making some progress; favourably to personal liberty, industry, probity, the security of property, credit, and general welfare. 3. A reform in the law of impounding and of replevin, which are of very fcquent occurrence (at least the impounding); and are attended with much intricacy, disadvamage, and oppression, to the poor. 4. A power of allowing costs in case of misdemeanor. At present for many most vexatious,and sometimes habitual injuries, 5. A reform in the law of capital punishment: the inequality, and, in many instances the excessive rigour, of which presses on the poor; and, by rendering prosecution and conviction, even when proved, very uncertain, injures them in another, and perhaps an equal degree. For the progress of this remedy the public is unspeakably indebted to the benevolence, devotion, and perseverance, of Sir Samuel Romilly. 6. A method of bringing the smaller offences to a speedier trial, by empowering the justices to empannel a jury of the hundred by precept to the sheriff for that purpose, and to hold an hundred-court once a month, in their several districts, for that purpose: but so that all prisoners upon bail, and all committed not more than a month before the quarter-sessions or assizes, shall be triable at the quarter-sessions or assizes, and not otherwise; the intent being only to shorten previous imprisonment; and as far as may consist with this, the more general jurisdiction being preferable to the more confined. 7. A clear and simple promulgation of the laws which concern the poor, that is, the body of the community; so that all who can read may have the means of seeing and understanding the laws to which they are subject, and those who cannot, but who attend some place of divine service, may know this also, by abstracts being read monthly. 8. A more liberal extension of the law which assigns counsel in formá pauperis, to those who may have to sue or be sued, but are unequal to the expences. 9. Some regulation with regard to the hours of labour, the construction of work-rooms, the heating of them, &c. in those trades and manufactures which are most prejudicial to health. 10. The taking off much from the duty on malt and increasing it proportionably on spirituous liquors. This would at the same time lessen the enormous frauds on that branch of the revenue. These are he principal means by which the condition of the poor might be, in all respects greatly ameliorated. And perhaps none of them, certainly not many, are difficult to be put in practice, or at all hazardous. CAPEL LOFFT. |