LIBRARY OF OLD AUTHORS. 235 



He also anticipated La Rochefoucauld and Byron in their 

 apophthegm concerning woman s last love. In The Devil s 

 Law- Case, Leonora says, 



For, as we love our youngest children best, 

 So the last fruit of our affection, 

 Wherever we bestow it, is most strong, 

 Most violent, most unresistible ; 

 Since tis, indeed, our latest harvest-home, 

 Last merriment fore winter. 



, In editing Webster, Mr. Hazlitt had the advantage (except in 

 a single doubtful play) of a predecessor in the Rev. Alexander 

 Dyce, beyond all question the best living scholar of the literature 

 of the times of Elizabeth and James I. If he give no proof of 

 remarkable fitness for his task, he seems, at least, to have been 

 diligent and painstaking. His notes are short and to the point, 

 and which we consider a great merit at the foot of the page. 

 If he had added a glossarial index, we should have been still 

 better pleased. Mr. Hazlitt seems to have read over the text 

 with some care, and he has had the good sense to modernise the 

 orthography, or, as he says, has observed the existing standard 

 of spelling throughout. Yet for what reason we cannot ima 

 ginehe prints I for ay/ taking the pains to explain it every 

 time in a note, and retains banquerout and coram apparently 

 for the sake of telling us that they mean bankrupt and 

 1 quorum. 7 He does not seem to have a quick ear for scansion, 

 which would sometimes have assisted him to the true reading. 

 We give an example or two : 



The obligation wherein we all stood bound 



Cannot be concealed {.cancelled} without great reproach. 



The realm, not they, 



Must be regarded. Be [we] strong and bold, 

 We are the people s factors. 

 Shall not be o erburdened {overburdened} in our reign. 



A merry heart 



And a good stomach to [a] feast are all. 

 Have her meat serv d up by bawds and ruffians, [dele up. ] 



Brother or father 



In [a] dishonest suit, shall be to me. 

 What s she in Rome your greatness cannot awe, 



Or your rich purse purchase? Promises and threats, [dele the second your.&quot;] 



Through clouds of envy and disast [rous] change. 



The Devil drives ; tis [it is] full time to go. 



He has overlooked some strange blunders. What is the mean 

 ing of 



Laugh at your misery, as foredeeming you 

 An idle meteor, which drawn forth, the earth 

 Would soon be lost i the air ? 



