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Article WILLIAM SHAKSPERE. ← Page 13 of 17 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
William Shakspere.
These noble sentiments must have found a response in the heart of many a quiet and unobtrusive student , who , in the seclusion of his own retreat , had discovered those beauties which the critics of the poet could not perceive ; for most assuredl y there always have been true loA'ers and admirers of this mighty genius , although their voices have not been raised in his favour . From the hour when these sound canons of criticism were laid
doAA'n , to this very day the tide of comment upon the works of Shakspere has entirely changed , and commentators have become as enthusiastic in enforcing his merits and circulatin g his praises as they were once anxious to discover his faults , and to parade Avhat they were pleased to denominate his failings . It Avas no longer a struggle between the two classes , so happily sketched by Landor : —
" In so wide and untrodden a creation as that of Shakspeare ' s , can we wonder or complain that sometimes we are bewildered and entangled in the exuberance of fertility ? Dry-brained men upon the continent , the trifling wits of the theatre , accurate , however , and expert calculators , tell us that his beauties are balanced by his faults . The poetical opposition , puffing for popularity , cry cheerily against them , his faults are balanced by his beauties ; when , in reality , all the faults that ever were committed in poetry would be but as air to earth , if we could weigh them against one single thought or image , such as almost every scene exhibits in every drama of this unrivalled genius . " *
The fame of England ' s great poet appears to be at last firml y established , aud the differences of opinion upon minor and unimportant details are those which eA'er must exist amongst critics and readers , how cordial soever their admiration of an author may be . Upon the disputed question of the unities Ave cau bestow but
a passing remark , namely , that rules invented for the classical drama , under totally different circumstances , cannot Avith any justice be forced upon the romantic drama , which has risen up in altered times , and amongst very different people . How little they are adapted to the requirements of the modern drama is proved by the French poets , who , in slavish imitation of classical
models , and adherence to their rules , have sacrificed all that coidd give life and beauty to their productions . Moreover , the bard cannot , in justice , be compelled to conform to the arbitrary rules of despotic and , too frequentl y , incapable critics . It Avere vain to endeavour to reduce Shakspere to the level of commonplace capacities ; better to seek to raise these to the hei ght of his lofty intellect . The settlement of the text of Shakspere has of late years been a subject of considerable controversy and dis-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
William Shakspere.
These noble sentiments must have found a response in the heart of many a quiet and unobtrusive student , who , in the seclusion of his own retreat , had discovered those beauties which the critics of the poet could not perceive ; for most assuredl y there always have been true loA'ers and admirers of this mighty genius , although their voices have not been raised in his favour . From the hour when these sound canons of criticism were laid
doAA'n , to this very day the tide of comment upon the works of Shakspere has entirely changed , and commentators have become as enthusiastic in enforcing his merits and circulatin g his praises as they were once anxious to discover his faults , and to parade Avhat they were pleased to denominate his failings . It Avas no longer a struggle between the two classes , so happily sketched by Landor : —
" In so wide and untrodden a creation as that of Shakspeare ' s , can we wonder or complain that sometimes we are bewildered and entangled in the exuberance of fertility ? Dry-brained men upon the continent , the trifling wits of the theatre , accurate , however , and expert calculators , tell us that his beauties are balanced by his faults . The poetical opposition , puffing for popularity , cry cheerily against them , his faults are balanced by his beauties ; when , in reality , all the faults that ever were committed in poetry would be but as air to earth , if we could weigh them against one single thought or image , such as almost every scene exhibits in every drama of this unrivalled genius . " *
The fame of England ' s great poet appears to be at last firml y established , aud the differences of opinion upon minor and unimportant details are those which eA'er must exist amongst critics and readers , how cordial soever their admiration of an author may be . Upon the disputed question of the unities Ave cau bestow but
a passing remark , namely , that rules invented for the classical drama , under totally different circumstances , cannot Avith any justice be forced upon the romantic drama , which has risen up in altered times , and amongst very different people . How little they are adapted to the requirements of the modern drama is proved by the French poets , who , in slavish imitation of classical
models , and adherence to their rules , have sacrificed all that coidd give life and beauty to their productions . Moreover , the bard cannot , in justice , be compelled to conform to the arbitrary rules of despotic and , too frequentl y , incapable critics . It Avere vain to endeavour to reduce Shakspere to the level of commonplace capacities ; better to seek to raise these to the hei ght of his lofty intellect . The settlement of the text of Shakspere has of late years been a subject of considerable controversy and dis-