shakspeare's writings. 259 



fascinating as works of genius, and, in their juxta 

 position, so serviceable to my present purpose, that I 

 feel reluctant to let them go. Both (as before stated) 

 are prodigiously susceptible of passion, and, therefore, 

 the less sagacious in the discovery of imposition ; 

 for both, under false assurances, are impelled to 

 reject — to curse — that, which, ere now, they have 

 devotedly loved. So far, they are of the same class ; 

 but how distinct as individuals, Lear is marked 

 with all the capriciousness of age, and is at times so 

 fantastical, that, but for his tragic situation we 

 should smile at his weakness. Naturally a man of 

 sense, but now imbecile, his feelings soon get the 

 better of his little remaining sanity, and, in his ravings 

 we occasionally perceive a kind of childish regret at 

 the loss of the mere state and toys of royalty. The 

 ^'sense of his former rank scarcely ever leaves him, 

 and is forcibly marked in his exclamation on hearing 

 it asked, " is it not the King ?" 



"Aye, every inch a King !" 

 Othello is distinguished by all the sweeping mag- 

 nificence of a romantic soul. His aspirings had 

 ever been of a more heroic nature than those of Lear. 

 More strongly nerved, his mental power outlives his 

 blasted happiness ; i. e. he is never absolutely mad. 

 The loss of Desdemona renders him insensible to 

 any loss of " pomp and circumstance of glory ;" and, 

 when inquired for, as " a rash and most unfortunate 

 man," he takes at once a touching farewell of that 

 fame which had gilded his former days in the brief 

 reply :— 



" That 's he, that was Othello." 



Nothing can be more real than the Moor's char- 

 acter, as developed in the third and fourth acts of 

 the tragedy bearing his name, wherein the rise and 

 progress of jealousy, in a heart equally capable of 

 the most devoted love and of the direst revenge is 

 painted with the most exact correctness in regard to 

 form, proportion and expression, and with the most 

 powerful mastery in respect to depth of coloring and 



