336 ; to correspondents. Dec. 26s, 
presented him with that. archnefs ascribed by Milton to 
death} who, he says, 
Grinn’d horrible, a ghastly smile. 
I flatter myself that these remarks will not be disagree- 
dble to critics of the sterling stamp. Before I close this 
uncommon topic, I cannot help observing, that Shakes-- 
peare infuses into his very wicked characters, for the most: 
part, a singular kind of pleasantry. Jago is exceedingly 
droll. Richard m1. is a’ great wit; and the bastard, in 
King Lear, has an extraordinary measure of fhrewdnefs and 
profligate humour. Old Hamlet, indeed, is penitent; 
and Macbeth discovers a transient ccntrition; but, to 
make up for this, the fhe-devil, his queen, defeats all his 
“scruples, by turning them into derision. I now return to 
‘Rubens. 
_ The faces of some of the damned are strongly expref- 
sive of Shakespeare’s significant idea, that, “ to be furious, 
is to be frighted out of fear.” Such similarities, in the 
sublime of poetry and painting, may be traced in various 
works of genius. 
The portraits of the second wife, and the mistrefs of 
Rubens make another specimen of superior ability and 
genuine humour. The wife is a picture of lovely decent 
modesty ; the mistrefs, of bewitching wantonnefs and levi- 
ty. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Tue rhapsody of the Country Domine is received with the corrections, and 
fhall have a place when a spare corner offers. 
The favour of 4. X. is received. This is, he thinks; the second copy 
of it. 
The lines transmitted by Al/amira are not fit to appear before the se- 
vere eye of the public; though they may please the parties concerned in 
private, where they fhould be kept. : 
The continuation of Trader Political is received. It is hopes this will 
be concluded in the present volume. 
The lines by Arne are received, and fhall appear in an early number of 
his work, 
