81. 



The mass of literature, in criticism and commentary, 

 on SLakspere, whicli has appeared within the last few 

 years, by its extent would seem to illustrate some law . 

 that makes the area of a poet^s orbit, depend on remote- 

 ness from the author's self. Of a variety and degree of 

 merit embracing, as may be supposed, the widest poles 

 of literary excellence — of wisdom and the want of it — a 

 very broad and simple classification, may be applied to it. 

 It is either complimentary or condemnatory. But on 

 examination it will be found, that this opposition in criti- 

 cism arises, less from peculiarity or causes existent in 

 the author than proper and personal to the commentators. 

 They divide naturally into a species of whig and tory 

 interest. On the one side are ranged writers who j)ro- 

 ceed on the assumption that Shakspere, as a player, 

 must have been, was, a very ignorant and unlettered 

 person, stumbling by accident on beauties, and on a 

 certain success in poetry, but still lamentably defective 

 in all those artistic aids of training and scholarship, which 

 are so necessary to noble poetry. It has mattered little 

 what facts Avere opposed to them : the theory was just 

 and perfect, and if the facts would not conform, it was 

 no fault of theirs. On the other side, within the last few 

 years only, have been marshalled a class — continually 

 increasing — ^Avhich proceeds on the assumption and fore- 

 gone conclusion, that Shakspere was unquestionably 

 the greatest genius that ever lived, and that, while 

 amenable to criticism, a proper reverence is due to him. 

 That as poets made rules in art, and rules in art did not 

 make poets, it is necessary to weigh what are termed his 

 sins against art and his defiance of art, before proceed- 

 ing to judgment and condemnation. These two parties 

 or factious in criticism have been loosely distinguished 

 as German and English. The former uniformly manifest- 

 ing a disposition of reverence, raising objections with 

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