And my ending is despair, As you from crimes would pardon'd be, 5 And my ending is despair, Unless I be reliev'd by pray'r;] This alludes to the old stories told of the despair of necromancers, in their last moments, and of the efficacy of the prayers of their friends for them. Warburton. 6 It is observed of The Tempest, that its plan is regular; this the author of The Revisal thinks, what I think too, an accidental effect of the story, not intended, or regarded, by our author. But, whatever might be Shakspeare's intention, in forming, or adopting, the plot, he has made it instrumental to the production of many characters, diversified with boundless invention, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extensive knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In a single drama, are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and sailors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin. The operations of magick, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desert island, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punishment of guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom our passions and reason are equally interested. Johnson. SOME of the incidents, in this play, may be supposed to have been taken from The Arcadia, Book I. chap. vi, where Pyrocles consents to head the Helots. (The Arcadia was entered on the books of the Stationers' Company, Aug. 23d, 1588.) The loveadventure of Julia resembles that of Viola, in Twelfth Night, and is, indeed, common to many of the ancient novels. Steevens. Mrs. Lenox observes, and I think not improbably, that the story of Proteus and Julia might be taken from a similar one, in the Diana of George of Montemayor." This pastoral romance,” says she, "was translated from the Spanish, in Shakspeare's time." I have seen no earlier translation, than that of Bartholomew Yong, who dates his dedication in November, 1598; and Meres, in his Wit's Treasury, printed the same year, expressly mentions the Two Gentlemen of Verona. Indeed, Montemayor was translated two or three years before, by one Thomas Wilson; but this work, I am persuaded, was never published entirely; perhaps some parts of it were, or the tale might have been translated by others. However, Mr. Steevens says, very truly, that this kind of love-adventure is frequent in the old novelists. Farmer. There is no earlier translation of the Diana, entered on the books of the Stationers' Company, than that of B. Younge, Sept. 1598. Many translations, however, after they were licensed, were capriciously suppressed. Among others, "The Decameron of Mr. John Boccace, Florentine,” was “recalled by my lord of Canterbury's commands." Steevens. It is observable (I know not for what cause) that the style of this comedy is less figurative, and more natural and unaffected, than the greater part of this author's, though supposed to be one of the first he wrote. Pope. It may very well be doubted, whether Shakspeare had any other hand in this play, than the enlivening it with some speeches and lines, thrown in here and there, which are easily distinguished, as being of a different stamp from the rest. Hanmer. To this observation of Mr. Pope, which is very just, Mr. Theobald has added, that this is one of Shakspeare's worst plays, and is less corrupted, than any other. Mr. Upton peremptorily determines, that if any proof can be drawn from manner and style, this play must be sent packing, and seek for its parent elsewhere. How otherwise, says he, do painters distinguish copies from originals? And have not authors their peculiar style and manner, from which a true critic can form as unerring judgement as a painter? I am afraid this illustration of a critic's science will not prove what is desired. A painter knows a copy from an original, by rules, somewhat resembling those, by which critics know a translation, which, if it be literal, and literal it must be to resemble the copy of a picture, will be easily distinguished. Copies are known from ori ginals, even when the painter copies his own picture; so, if an author should literally translate his work, he would lose the manner of an original. Mr. Upton confounds the copy of a picture with the imitation of a painter's manner. Copies are easily known; but good imitations are not detected with equal certainty, and are, by the best judges, often mistaken. Nor is it true, that the writer has always peculiarities equally distinguishable with those of the painter. The peculiar manner of each arises from the desire, natural to every performer, of facilitating his subsequent work, by recurrence to his former ideas; this recurrence produces that repetition which is called habit. The painter, whose work is partly intellectual and partly manual, has habits of the mind, the eye, and the hand; the writer has only habits of the mind. Yet, some painters have differed as much from themselves, as from any other; and I have been told, that there is little resemblance between the first works of Raphael and the last. The same variation may be expected in writers; and if it be true, as it seems, that they are less subject to habit, the difference between their works may be yet greater. But, by the internal marks of a composition, we may discover the author with probability, though seldom with certainty..... When I read this play, I cannot but think, that I find, both in the serious and ludicrous scenes, the language and sentiments of Shakspeare. It is not, indeed, one of his most powerful effusions; it has neither many diversities of character, nor striking delineations of life; but it abounds in yvwuar, beyond most of his plays, and few have more lines or passages, which, singly considered, are eminently beautiful. I am yet inclined to believe, that it was not very successful, and suspect that it has escaped corruption, only because, being seldom played, it was less exposed to the hazards of transcription. Johnson. N 2 PERSONS REPRESENTED. Duke of Milan, father to Silvia. Valentine,} Gentlemen of Verona. Antonio, father to Proteus. Thurio, a foolish rival to Valentine. Panthino, servant to Antonio. Host, where Julia lodges in Milan. Julia, a lady of Verona, beloved by Proteus. Servants, musicians. SCENE, Sometimes in Verona; sometimes in Milan; and on the frontiers of Mantua. 1 Proteus,] the old copy has-Protheus; but this is merely the antiquated mode of spelling Proteus. See the Princely Pleasures at Kenelworth Castle, by G. Gascoigne, 1587, where "Protheus appeared, sitting on a dolphyns back." Again, in one of Barclay's Eclogues: "Like as Protheus oft chaungeth his stature." Shakspeare's character was so called, from his disposition to change. Steevens. |