294 O^ ENGLISH PLAYS. June 29 



Jsnce coiitiruics to admire. The epilogue was no doubt rsccived with 

 gi«at ajiplaufe. 



" We are fuch (tuff 

 " As dreams are nwde of."— 



1%e Merry Wives of IVindJtr, a Comedy. 

 Tr there was nnthiiijr Id Falftaff's charader, as our critics defctibe 

 If, but " rodomantacics, lits, and jollity," Queen Elizabeth would 

 never have defired a continuation of it. But her juHgmfnt dif- 

 ccrncd higher qualities in it, a preat meafure of (lirewd feiiit, and iii- 

 tcuipa-able humour. A continuation of the fame identical charaAer in 

 thi? piaV) without flattening in the kaft, is an amazing proof oi the 

 PrcT.gth oi Shakefpcare s gx.nius. 



yJurerig-Zelic, a I'raje/iy, hy Dry den. 



This v, by far the beft rhyming play in the Englifh language ; yet 

 •hough it has beauties, it has many abfurdities *. I give great credit to 

 r)ryden for the elegant cncomnim upon Shakefpcare, and his full con- 

 ic fjim <if great inferiority in his own dramatic talents. 



The lines which I refer tn, are in the prologue, aiid are fo jufl and* 

 beautiful, that I fuall take leave to inftrt them. 



" But fpite of all his pride, a fecret fhame 

 " Invades his breaft at SJiakefpcare's facred name : 

 " Aw'd when he hears his godlike Roman's rage, 

 " He, in a jufl defpair, would quit the ftage ; 

 " And to an age lefs polifh'd, more unfkill'd, 

 " Does, with difdain, the forcmofl honours yield. 

 " As with the greater dtad, he dares not flrive, 

 •* He would not march his verfe with thofe who live ; 

 " Let him retire, between two ages caft, 

 " The firft of this, and iiindmoft of the laft." 

 The poetry is fine, tafy, and agreeable ; but there is fomething ab- 

 furd, romantic, and fantaftical, in a great part of the love, that is to 

 lay, in a great part of the play. Shakefpcare ntvei thought of love in 

 this extravagant fafhion. 



" And from the dregs of life think to receive 



" What the firfUprightly running could not give. 



* Such a* the following couplet; 



" But til iinpliCiblcrevcligcINCLlN'D." 



*» iic liH'.s that foUo***, are wwittt^' of a placet!) thcfublimtft page of Lucretius or JuWir*!. 



" Wlien I cnnnderlifc, 'tis iill a ch»at ; 



•' yctfoiil'd witlili'.pc-, niMi fav'iur the (Iceri:; ' 



" T.ull on, atiU think t.i.mon iw w,!lie,.?y; 



'= Tn-mattnv'a t3U::r Ih." t!i« Icrmir lUy, 



** rlcsworfc, and wiiileie fay. w< (lialltic Idfft 



*' With foine new joys, cuts cff whstM-c pofltft. 



-' NiraiiReCdzcnagc! none vmilil live pad yeai^again^ 



•■ Va all hope pltafUrtiii wiwt yctrtiiiain. ', ■ 



