sisted in sympathy with human nature, in all its shapes, degrees, depressions, and elevations. The object of the pedantic moralist is to find out the bad in everything: his was to shew that there is some soul of goodness in things evil.' Even Master Barnardine is not left to the mercy of what others think of him; but when he comes in, speaks for himself, and pleads his own cause, as well as if counsel had been assigned him. In one sense, Shakespear was no moralist at all: in another, he was the greatest of all moralists. He was a moralist in the same sense in which nature is one. He taught what he had learnt from her. He shewed the greatest knowledge of humanity with the greatest fellow-feeling for it. One of the most dramatic passages in the present play is the interview between Claudio and his sister, when she comes to inform him of the conditions on which Angelo will spare his life. Claudio. Let me know the point. Isabella. O, I do fear thee, Claudio: and I quake, And six or seven winters more respect Than a perpetual honour. Dar'st thou die? Claudio. Why give you me this shame ? From flowery tenderness; if I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride, And hug it in mine arms. Isabella. There spake my brother! there my father's grave Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die: Thou art too noble to conserve a life In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy— Whose settled visage and deliberate word Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew, Claudio. The princely Angelo? Isabella. Oh, 'tis the cunning livery of hell, The damned'st body to invest and cover In princely guards! Dost thou think, Claudio, Thou might'st be freed? Claudio. Oh, heavens! it cannot be. Isabella. Yes, he would give it thee, for this rank offence, So to offend him still: this night's the time That I should do what I abhor to name, Or else thou dy'st to-morrow. Claudio. Thou shalt not do`t. Claudio. Thanks, dear Isabel. Isabella. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to-morrow. That thus can make him bite the law by the nose ? When he would force it, sure it is no sin; Or of the deadly seven it is the least. Claudio. If it were damnable, he, being so wise, Be perdurably fin'd? Oh, Isabel! Isabella. What says my brother? Claudio. Death is a fearful thing. Isabella. And shamed life a hateful. Claudia. Aye, but to die, and go we know not where; To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot; This sensible warm motion to become A kneaded clod, and the delighted spirit To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside To what we fear of death. Isabella. Alas! alas! Claudio. Sweet sister, let me live: That it becomes a virtue.` What adds to the dramatic beauty of this scene and the effect of Claudio's passionate attachment to life is, that it immediately follows the Duke's lecture to him, in the character of the Friar, recommending an absolute indifference to it. -Reason thus with life, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing, That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art, That do this habitation, where thou keep'st, For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun, And yet run'st toward him still: thou art not noble; Are nurs'd by baseness: thou art by no means valiant; Of a poor worm: thy best of rest is sleep, Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, For ending thee no sooner; thou hast nor youth, nor age; Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR is no doubt a very amusing play, with a great deal of humour, character, and nature in it: but we should have liked it much better, if any one else had been the hero of it, instead of Falstaff. We could have been contented if Shakespear had not been commanded to shew the knight in love.' Wits and philosophers, for the most part, do not shine in that character; and Sir John himself, by no means, comes off with flying colours. Many people complain of the degradation and insults to which Don Quixote is so frequently exposed in his various adventures. But what are the unconscious indignities which he suffers, compared with the sensible mortifications which Falstaff is made to bring upon himself? For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun, And yet run'st toward him still: thou art not noble ; Are nurs'd by baseness: thou art by no means valiant; Of a poor worm: thy best of rest is sleep, And that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, For ending thee no sooner; thou hast nor youth, nor age; Dreaming on both: for all thy blessed youth Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR WINDSOR is no doubt a very amusing play, with character, and nature in it; but we should one else had been the hero of it, ave been conte ed if Shakespear love." Wits and hat character; and ing colours. Many which Don Quixote tures. But what are compared with the to bring upon himself? |