My mate, that 's never to be found again, So I alone, now left disconfolate, Mourn to myself the absence of my love; General Obfervation. To the Story-book, or, "Pleasant History (as it is called) of Doraftus and Fawnea," written by Robert Greene, M. A. we are indebted for S's Winter's Tale. Greene joined with Dr. Lodge in writing a play, called "A Looking Glass for London and England," printed in 1598, in quarto, and black letter; and many of his other works, which are very numerous, were published about that time, and this amongst the rest. It went through many impressions, all of the fame form and letter as the play; and that so low down as the year 1664, of which year I have a copy, fays Capell. This play, throughout, is written in the very spirit of its author. And in telling this homely and simple, though agreeable country tale, Our sweetest Shakespear, fancy's child, This was neceffary to observe in mere justice to the play; as the meanness of the fable, and the extravagant conduct of it, had missed some of a great name into a wrong judgment of its merit; which, as far as it regards sentiment and character, is scarcely inferior to any in the whole collection. W. J. allows this play to be very entertaining; and the character of Autolycus very naturally conceived, and strongly represented. TRA I. Antony and Cleopatra. ACT I. SCENE I. Antony's Softness. HIS captain' IS captain's heart Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst To cool a gipsy's lust! Love, the Nobleness of Life. Let (2) Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch Of the rang'd empire fall; here is my space, Kingdoms (1) Reneges.] i. e. Renounces. Pope. J. observes, that in the two last lines, something seems to be wanting. The bellows and fan being commonly used for contrary purposes, were probably opposed by the author, who might perhaps have written bellows and the fan, to kindle and to cool a gipsy's luft. Gipsy is here used both in the original meaning of an Egyptian, and in its accidental sense, for a bad woman. (2) Let, &c.] It is remarked by Plutarch, of Antony, that his language and manner of speaking were, like his temper, turgid and ambitious; and that he affected the Afiatic manner: S., we find, not only from the style of the present, but many other of Antony's speeches, was no ftranger to this particular, which is an additional proof of his learning: as well as his inimitable excellence in keeping up the historical truth of his characters. Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike Lovers' Praise. Fie, (3) wrangling queen! Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, SCENE II. Great Minds respect Truth. Mes. The nature of bad news infects the teller. Ant. When it concerns the fool, or coward On: Things, that are past, are done, with me: 'tis thus; Who tells me true, though in his tale lye death, I hear him as he flatter'd. Speak to me home; mince not the general tongue : Name Cleopatra as she's called in Rome: Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults With fuch full licence, as both truth and malice Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds When our quick winds lie still; (4) and our ills told us, Is as our earing. Things lost valued. Forbear me. There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it; What (3) Fie, &c.] See Winter's Tale, where Florizel speaks of Perdita nearly the fame thing, but with greater elegance. (4) Quick winds lie ftill.] The sense is, that man, not agitated by cenfure, like foil not ventilated by quick winds, produces more evil than good. J. 4 |