SHAKSPEARE " THE POET OF NATURE. 9 



analyze one of the characters, to criticise the struc- 

 ture, or unfold the beauties of a drama, but to ascer- 

 tain what notices of natural objects they con- 

 tained. I may, perhaps, have been influenced in 

 my selection of Shakspeare's Works by the opinion 

 which Dr. Johnson has expressed in his celebrated 

 preface. After applying to Shakspeare the epithet 

 of " the Poet of Nature," he remarks, " His attention 

 was not confined to the actions of men ; he was an 

 exact surveyor of the inanimate world ; his descrip- 

 tions have always some peculiarity, gathered by con- 

 templating things as they really exist ; whether life 

 or nature be his subject, Shakspeare shows plainly 

 that he has seen with his own eyes. He gives the 

 image which he receives, not weakened or distorted 

 by the inten^ention of any other mind ; the ignorant 

 feel his representations to be just, and the learned 

 see that they are complete." But I was still more 

 guided in my choice by the testimony of my friend 

 the late John Templeton, Esq., that " the works of 

 Shakspeare evince a surprising power of accurate 

 observation," and he added, although I may not 

 quote his words correctly, " that while Milton and 

 the other poets had strung together in their descrip- 

 tions the blossoms of spring and the flowers of sum- 

 mer, Shakspeare has placed in one group those only 

 which may be found in bloom at the same time. 



