I79»» 



LITERARY IJJTELLIGENCER. 



fand phantoms, the affriglUed imagination is at a lofs what 

 to decide or v/here to rell ; racked with many contending 

 arguments, agitated with the anxiety of hope and fear, and 

 impatient to be relieved from this internal war, it Hies into 

 whatever afyium it can find ; and folicitcus about the dai>- 



gcr, it generally chcufes the worft. 



Upon the whole, in this Intercourfe betwix* ^6 and 

 Othello, Shakei'pear has (hewn themofl complete knowledge 

 of the human heart. Here he has put forth all the ftrengtU 

 pf his genius ; the faults which he is lb prone to fall into, 

 are entirely out of fight. V/e lind none of his quibbling, 

 his punning, or bombafl ; all is ferioufnefs, all is paflion- 

 He brings human nature into the moll difficult fituationthat 

 can be conceived; and v/ith matchlcfs ikill he fjpports iu 

 Who can read thofc admirable fcenes without being touched 

 in the moft fem'lble manner for the high grief of Othello? 

 Plungedinto a Tea of troubles whicli he did not deferve, we 



fee him torn afundcr in the moft cruel manner. How feei- 



big are his reflexions on his own flate of mind. 

 ■ Perdition catch my foul 



If I do not love thee ; and when I love thee not. 



Chaos is come again. 



I'd rather be a toad. 



And live upon the vapour of a dungeon. 



Than keep a corner in the thing I love, 



For others ufc. 



Oh now, for ever 



Farewcl the tranquil mind, farcwel, content. 

 And afterwards. 



Had it pleafed heaven 



To try me with afflicTion ; had he rain'd 



All kinds of fores and Hiames on my bare head, 



SteepM me in poverty to the very lips, 



Given to captivity me and my hopes ; 



1 Ihould have found in fome place of my foul 



A drop of patience. But, Alas ! to make lue 



A fixed figure for the hand of fcorn. 



To point lus flow and moving finger at — 



