ing, and that we had no long or short words in our language; but he was much mistaken. His faphics are worse, if poffible, than his elegiacs: If mine eys can speak to do hearty errand. So much mistaken oftentimes are learned men, when they don't fufficiently confider the peculiar genius, and distinguishing features, as it were, of one language from another. THE reader has now a plan exhibited before him, partly intended to fix, if poffible, the volatil fpirit of criticism; and partly to do justice to Shakespeare, as an artist in dramatic poetry. How far I have fucceeded in this attempt must be left to his judgment. But it is to be remember'd, that things are not as we judge of them, but as they exift in their own natures, independent of whim and caprice. So that I except against all fuch judges, as talk only from common vogue and fashion; "why, really 'tis just "as people like-we have different taftes now, " and things must be accommodated to them." They who are advanced to this pitch of barbarism, have much to unlearn, before they can have ears to hear. Again, I can hardly allow thofe for judges, who ridicule all rules in poetry; for whatever is beautiful and proper is agreeable to rule nor thofe, who are for fetting at vari ance art and nature. And here I have Shake, fpeare's authority, who, in the Winter's Tale, fays very finely, The art itself is nature: for what is the office of art, but to fhew nature in its perfection? Those only therefore feem to me to be judges, who knowing what is truly fair and good in general, have science and art fufficient to apply this knowledge to particulars. If the plan likewise here proposed were followed, the world might expect a much better, at least a lefs altered edition from Shakespeare's own words, than has yet been published. In order for this, all the various readings of authority fhould faithfully and fairly be collated, and exhibited before the reader's eyes; and, with fome little ingenuity, the best of these fhould be chofen, and placed in the text. As to conjectural emendations, I have faid enough of these already. Nor can I but think, that a fhort interpretation would be not amifs, when the construction is a little embarrassed, or where words are used not strictly according to the common acceptation, or fetched from other languages and fome remarks could not but appear requifite, to explain the poet's allufions to the various cuftoms and manners, either of . our our own, or foreign countries; or to point out, now and then, a hidden beauty but this fhould be done fparingly; for fome compliment is to be paid to the reader's judgment: and furely, if any critics are contemptible, 'tis fuch as, with a foolish admiration, ever and anon are crying out; "How fine! what a beautiful fen"timent! what ordonnance of figures, &c !" For to admire, without a reafon for admiration, tho' in a subject truly admirable, is a kind of madness; and not to admire at all, downright stupidity. |