1810.) 
The resemblance is of a very general 
kind, though sufficientlyjust. Thedying 
strains of harmony to which the duke 
has been listening, afforded the same 
soft and soothing species of pleasure to 
one sense, that the south wind breathing 
upon a hank of violets did to another. 
' The circumstances of its stealing and 
giving odour, are wholly adventitious. 
A thousand examples of the same poe- 
tical license might be adduced from Ho- 
mer, Milton, and other poets of the first 
class, as well as from Shakespeare him- 
self, €. g. 
As sweet as ditties highly penned, 
Sung by a fair queen in a sumimer’s bower, 
With ravishing division to her lute. 
How many circumstances are here enu- 
merated which have nothing m the coun- 
ter-part of the comparison to correspond 
with them! And the eleyant simile in 
which Virgil compares the queen of 
Carthage to the goddess Diana sur- 
rounded by her nymphs, and far surpas- 
sing them ali in. grace and beauty, con- 
cludes with the mention of a eircum- 
stance wholly extrinsic indeed, but far 
more touching and interesting than is 
exhibited, strictly speaking, by the simile 
itself: 
“¢ Latonz tacitum pertentant gaudia pectus.” 
The attempts of the learned critic to 
discover and illustrate a perfect corre- 
spondence of circumstances in the pre- 
sent instatce, are very unsuccessful, 
Soft and affecting music does not take 
away the naturai tranquillity of the 
mind; the self-same strains have not a 
power of exciting pain or pleasure: and 
the quotations from Milton are obviously 
inapplicable. That great pcet does not 
intimate that the self-same strains of 
Orpheus were proper to excite both 
mirth and melancholy. He only sup« 
oses that the same effect might be pro- 
duced by different means, and that the 
ear of Piutu might be won by notes war- 
bled either in cheerful or in soleinn 
strains. 
Vicl. Who governs here? 
Capt. A noble duke in nature as in name. 
Viol. What is his name? 
Capt. Orsino. Act I. Scene 2. 
- 8 T know not,” says Dr. J: inson, * whe- 
ther the nobility of the name be coin- 
prised in Duke or Orsino, which is, I think, 
the name of a great Italian family.” The 
_ passage, I conceive, admits but of one 
contruction, and the nobility is undoubt+ 
edly comprised in the name of Orsino. 
‘The two great families of Orsini and 
Montuty Mac, No: 2d. 
Reply to“ Inquilinus,” on the British Museum. 
329 
Colonna, were for a long series of des 
scents the acknowledged chieftains and 
leaders of the adverse and furious fac- 
tious of the Guelphs and Gibbelines, by 
the conflict of which Italy was for ages 
distracted and desolated. The pontiffs 
Celestine IIL. and Nicholas III. and at 
far more recent periud, Benedict X11, 
were of the noble house of Orsini. 
I do I know not what, and fear to find 
Mine eye too great a flatterer for my minds 
. Act I. Scene 2, 
“T believe,” says Dr. Johnson, * that the 
meaning is, I am not mistress of my own 
actions, Jam afraid that my eves be- 
tray me, and flatter the -youth without 
my consent with discoveries of love.” 
But it is evident that Olivia was by no 
means desirous of couceaiing her passion 
from the object of it, The meaning of 
this obscure declaration, therefore, I sup- 
pose to be—I am taking a step of which 
I know not the consequence; and fear to 
find the flatteries of the eye at variance 
with the dictates of the understanding. 
She, however, appears to console herself 
with the reflection that ‘if weak women 
go astray, their stars are more in fault 
than they.” 
Fate show thy force; ourselves we do not owes 
What is decreed must be, and be this so. 
———= 
°Tis that miracle and queen of gems, 
That nature pranks her in, attracts my soul. 
Act Il. Scene 6. 
We should read thus, Dr. Warburton 
tells us. “ ‘That nature pranks, her mind 
attracts my soul.” Tis is a frigid criti- 
cism indeéd. Shakespeare not being of 
“* Magdalen’s learned grove,” had no 
idea of representing a lover as enrape 
tured only, or chiefly, with the mental ’ 
beauties of his mistress. 
(To be continued. ) 
a 
To the Editor of the Monthiy Magazine, 
SIR, 
tt your last Number is a communi- 
cation signed “ Inguilinus,” rea 
specting certain defects in the arranges 
ment of the British Museum, and pro 
posing certain alterations in that estas 
blishment. With these proposals, taken 
in general, I perfectly agree with In- 
quilinus, but must beg leave to take 
notice of one or two of his statements, 
which appear to me incorrect, or imma. 
terial; and by way or premise, I would 
submit that Inquilinus seems to mention 
walking three miles in the rain, as if he 
classed that among the faults imputed to 
the directors of the establishment; but 
9 U hele canes 
