114 
peare. They are rather “ the scale by 
which we may ascend” to a true know- 
ledge of him. He still maintains his su- 
periority, and bears the same relation to 
them that St. Paul’s does to the neighbour- 
ing spires. Milton is, in fact, a stronger 
instance of great genius standing alone, 
unsupported by ‘kindred excellence, 
though he was much more indebted to 
other writers than Shakspeare. 
’ There is scarcely any thing in the au- 
thors, quoted. by Mr. Lamb, which takes 
away from -the originality of this great 
man. J propose, however, to mention 
a few instances of similarity which have 
struck me. 
The following scene reminds the rea- 
der strongly of some of the most interest- 
ing parts of Richard the Second, and with 
the exception of Richard’s exclamation, 
“Oh! that IT were a mockery king of 
snow, to melt away before the sun of Bo- 
lingbroke,” is scarcely inferior to them. 
Tt is from Marlowe’s Edward the Second. 
Leicester.—-My Lord, why waste you thus 
the time away ? 
They stay your answer, will you yield your 
crown ? ° 
Edward,—Ah, Leicester, weigh how hardly 
I can brook 
To lose my crown and kingdom without 
cause 5 
To give ambitious Mortimer my right, 
That likea mountain overwhelms my bliss, 
In which extreme my mind here murther’dis, 
But what the heay’ns appoint, I must obey. 
Here, take my crown ; the life of Edward too; 
Two kings in England cannot reign at oncem— 
But, stay awhile, let me be king till night, 
That I may gaze upon this glittering crown ; 
So shall my tyes receive their last content, 
My head the latest honour due to it, 
And jointly both yield up their wished right. 
Continue ever, thou celestial sun 3 
Let never silent night possess this clime 5 
Stand: still, yon watches of the element ; 
All times-and seasons, rest you at a stay, 
That Edward may be still fair England's king. 
But day’s bright beam doth vanish fast away, 
And needs must I resign my wished crown : 
¥nhuman creatures ! nurs’d with tiger’s milk! 
Why gape you for your sovereign’s overthrow? 
My diadem I mean, and guiltless life. 
See, monsters, see, I’}1 wear my crown again. 
What, fear you not the fury of your king ? 
But, hapless Edward, thou art fondly led, 
They pass not for thy frowns as late they did, 
But seek to make a new-elected king 5 a 
Which fills my mind with strange despairing 
thoughts, / 
And in this torment comfort find I none, 
But that I feel the crown upon my head 5 
And therefore let me wear it yet awhile. 
Messenger.—-My lord, the parliament must 
have present news, 
And therefore say, will you resign or no? 
Instances of similarity between 
) 
[Sept. 1, 
Edward.—Ti not resign! but whilst J 
live be king. 
Traitors, be zone, and join with Mortimer. 
Bishop.—This answer we'll return, and so 
farewell. 
Leicester. —Call them again, my lord, and . 
speak them fair 5 {s\voe 
For if they go, the prince shall lose his right. 
Edward.—Call thou them back, I have no 
power to speak, 
Leicester.«My lord, the king is willing to 
resign, &c. ' 
_ The turn of thought in Vindici’s reflec 
tions on the scull of his dead lady is some~ 
thing the same as Hamlet’s, in the scene’ - 
with the grave-digger. Hamletsays,“ Here 
hung those lips which FE have kissed I 
know not how often; where be your jibes 
now? &c. Now get you to my lady’s ta- 
ble, and tell her, let ber paint an inch 
thick, to this complexion she must come; 
make her laugh at that.” — 
Vindici.—T here’s an eye, 
Able to tempt a great manto serve God : 
A pretty hanging lip, that has now forgot to 
dissemble, ; 
Methinks this mouth should make a swearer 
tremble. i 
Here’s a cheek keepsher colour, let the wind 
go whistle. 
Does every proud and self-affecting dame 
Camphire her face for this ?— 
Here might a scornful and ambitious woman 
Look through and through herself.—See, la~ 
dies, with false forms 
You deceive men, but cannot deceive worms. 
In the same play, The Revenger’s Tra- 
gedy, Castiza addresses her mother, who 
is acting a dishonourable part, in the fol, 
lowing manner :— 
I cry you mercy, lady, I mistook you ;~ 
Pray did you see my mother? which way 
went you? ; 
Pray God I have not lost her. 
There is here the same profound ex- 
pression of surprise, and of the overturn- 
ing of all confidence in our strongest cou- 
victions, as when Lear asks Gonerill, 
“Are you our daughter? Does any here 
know me? This is not Lear—Whio is it 
that can tell me whol am? For by the 
marks of sovereignty, of knowledge, and’ 
of reason, I should be false persuaded I 
had daughters. Your name, fair yentle- 
woman?” Othello affects to believe that 
his wife is not the same person, “TI cry 
you mercy, then, I took you for that cun- 
ning whore* of Venice, that married with 
Othello.” ; 
Say, GEES. ST SE LCE PE a 
* This epithet seems to have been general 
at the time. “* Think me a common, and 
most cunning whore,” Love's Sacrifice, p. 240." 
2 fa 
