each his particular poft, fixes the hour of maffacre, and, every now and then, casts. unquiet and fufpicious looks on Jaffier,. whom he miftrufts. He then makes them this pathetic fpeech, tranflated word for word from the abbé de St. Réal; Never did fo profound repofe fore-run What has the French writer done in. this cafe? he dares not introduce fuch a number of perfonages on the scene, and is therefore obliged to make Renaud, under the name of Rutilus, repeat a fmall part of this fpeech which, he fays, he had before made to the confpirators. You conceive from this very account, how much fuperior the english drama must be to the french, though Otway's play should be, in other refpects, monftrous. With how much pleasure I saw in London your tragedy of Julius Cæfar, which has has been the delight of your nation for a century and a half past! I do not indeed pretend to approve the barbarous irregularities with which it abounds. It is only furprising that there are not ftill greater defects in a work, wrote in an age of ignorance, by a man who did not even understand Latin, and whofe only mafter was his genius *. But amidst so many grofs faults, with what ecftacy did I fee Brutus ftill holding the poynard ftained with the * This notion has been abundantly refuted. The prefent bishop of Gloucefter has ftrongly contended: for Shakespear's learning, and has produced many imitations and parallel paffages with ancient authors. I am inclined, fays Mr. Pope, to think this opinion proceeded originally from the zeal of the partizans of our author and Ben Johnson; as they endeavoured to exalt the one at the expence of the other. It is ever the nature of parties to be in extremes; and nothing is so probable, as that because Ben Johnson had much the most learning, it was faid on the one hand, that Shakespear had none at all; and because Shakespear had much the moft wit and fancy, it was retorted on the other, that Johnson wanted both. Pref. to Mr. Pope's Edit. of Shakespear, blood: blood of Cæfar, and having affembled the Roman people, addreffing himself to them in the following manner : "Romans, countrymen, and friends! hear for my caufe; and be filent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe. Cenfure me in your wisdom, and awake your fenfes that you may the better judge. If there be any in this af fembly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I fay, that Brutus' love to Cæfar was no lefs than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæfar, this is my answer: not that I loved Cæfar lefs, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæfar were living, and die all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæfar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I flew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. Who's here fo bafe, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I of fended. fended. Who is here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo vile, that will not love his country? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. pause for a reply. Romans. I None, Brutus, none. Brutus. Then none have I offended- I have done no more to Cæfar than you fhall do to Brutus.. The question of his death is enroll'd in the capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he suffered death. Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Anthony: who though he had no hand in his death, fhall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you fhall not? with this I depart, that as I flew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the fame dagger for myself, when it fhall please my country to need my death. Romans. Live, Brutus, live!" After After this fcene, Mark Antony comes to raise the compaffion of thefe very Romans, in whom Brutus had just inspired all his sternness and inhumanity. Anthony," by an artful oration, brings back infenfibly these proud minds; and when they are foftened into pity, then he difcovers to them the corps of Cæfar; and by a dif play of the most pathetic expreffions, and most moving complaints, he ftirs them up to mutiny and revenge. Perhaps the French would not fuffer upon the stage a chorus compofed of Roman plebeians and artizans; or the bloody corpfe of Cæfar expofed to the eyes of the multitude; and, that multitude provoked to revenge from the roftrum. It is cuftom alone, the governor of the world, that can change the taste of nations, and turn into entertainment what was before the object of their antipathy. The Greeks have hazarded fpectacles. which would not be lefs difagreeable to us. Hypolitus, fhattered by his fall, comes on the stage to count his wounds and to utter doleful cries. Philoctetus falls into his. |