Part 2 (1/2)
Page 230, 231.
Bernardo. _It was about to speak when the c.o.c.k crew &c_.
The Speeches in consequence of this Observation are truly beautiful, and are properly Marks of a great Genius; as also these Lines which describe the Morning, are in the true Spirit of Poetry.
Page 31. _But, look, the Morn, in Russet Mantle clad, Walks oe'r the Dew of yon high Eastern Hill_.
And as to _Shakespeare's_ complying with the vulgar Notions of Spirits amongst the _English_ at that Time, so far from being low, it adds a Grace and a _Navete_ to the whole Pa.s.sage, which one can much easier be sensible of than know how to make others so.
SCENE. _The Palace_, (p. 231.) And Sequel.
_Enter the_ King, Queen, Hamlet, &c.
It is very natural and apropos, that the King should bring some plausible Excuse for marrying his Brother's Wife so soon after the Decease of his Brother, which he does in his first Speech in this Scene: It would else have too soon revolted the Spectators against such an unusual Proceeding. All the Speeches of the King in this Scene to his Amba.s.sadors _Cornelius_ and _Voltimand_, and to _Laertes_, and to Prince _Hamlet_, are entirely Fawning, and full of Dissimulation, and makes him well deserve the Character which the Prince afterwards gives him, of _smiling, d.a.m.n'd Villain, &c._ when he is informed of his Crime.
The King's and Queen's Questions to _Hamlet_ are very proper, to give the Audience a true Idea of the Filial Piety of the young Prince, and of his virtuous Character; for we are hereby informed of his fixed and strong Grief for the Loss of his Father: For it does not appear, that the Usurpation of the Crown from him, sits heavy on his Soul, at least, it is not seen by any Part of his Behaviour.
How his Uncle came to be preferred to him, we are left entirely in the dark, but may suppose it to have been done in the same Manner, as several things of the like Nature have been effected, viz. by Corruption and Violence, and perhaps upon the Pretence of the Prince's being too young.
I can by no Means agree with Mr. _Theobalds_, (p. 235.) who thinks, that it is necessary to suppose a considerable Number of Years spent in this Tragedy; because Prince _Hamlet_ is said to desire to return to _Wittenberg_ again, and is supposed to be just come from it; and that afterwards, the Grave-Digger lets us know that the Prince is Thirty Years old; my Reasons are, that as _Wittenberg_ was an University, and _Hamlet_ is represented as a Prince of great Accomplishments, it is no wonder that he should like to spend his Time there, in going on in his Improvements, rather than to remain inactive at _Elsinoor_, or be immers'd in Sottishness, with which he seems to tax his Countrymen; as will appear in the Sequel. Besides, he might well desire to return there, when he found his Throne usurped, and his Mother acting so abominable a Part. And as to the Term of going to School, &c. That does not at all imply literally a School for Boys, but is poetically used for Studying at any Age.
Another Reason may be given why there cannot be supposed to be a great Length of Time in this Play; which is this, That we see in the First Act, Amba.s.sadors dispatch'd to old _Norway_, concerning his Nephew _Fortinbras's_ Army, which was then ready to march; and in the Fourth Act, we see this Prince at the Head of that Army, which immediately, upon the Emba.s.sy from the _Danish_ King to his Uncle, we are naturally to suppose he leads to that other Enterprize which is mentioned in that Scene. Now it is no ways likely, that between the Emba.s.sy and the marching of an Army already a.s.sembled before that Emba.s.sy, there should be a Number of Years. These Reasons and the whole Conduct of the Piece convince me, that this is one of _Shakespeare's_ Plays, in which the least Time is employ'd; how much there is, I cannot pretend to say.
As to the _Prolepsis_, or in other Words, the mentioning the University of _Wittenberg_, long before its Establishment, thus antedating its Time, I shall not justify _Shakespeare_; I think it is a fault in him; but I cannot be of Opinion, that it has any bad Effect in this Tragedy.
_See Mr_. Theobald's _Note_, (p. 235.)
As to _Hamlet's_ Soliloquy, I shall set down the whole Pa.s.sage, and shall subjoin the Remarks of a very eminent Author which are in the Spirit of true Criticism.
_Oh that this too, too solid Flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve it self into a Dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His Cannon 'gainst Self-slaughter! Oh G.o.d! Oh G.o.d!
How weary, stale, and unprofitable, Seem to me all the Uses of this World!
Fie on't! Oh fie! 'tis an unweeded Garden, That grows to Seed; Things rank and gross in Nature, Possess it merely. That it should come to this, But two Months dead! Nay, not so much, not Two!
So Excellent a King, that was to this_, Hyperion _to a Satyr: So Loving to my Mother, That he would not let e'en the Winds of Heav'n Visit her Face too roughly. Heav'n and Earth!
Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him, As if Increase of Appet.i.te had grown By what it fed on; yet within a Month!
Let me not think. Frailty! Thy Name is Woman.
A little Month; e'er yet those Shoes were old, With which she follow'd my poor Father's Body, Like_ Niobe, _all Tears; Why she, even she, (Oh Heav'n, a Beast that wants Discourse of Reason, Would have mourn'd longer) married with mine Uncle, My Father's Brother; but no more like my Father, Than I to_ Hercules. _Within a Month, E'er yet the Salt of most unrighteous Tears Had left the flus.h.i.+ng in her gaul'd Eyes, She married. Oh! most wicked Speed, to post With such Dexterity to incestuous Sheets!_
_It is not, nor it cannot come to Good.
But, break my Heart, for I must hold my Tongue._
”The young Prince, (says this Author in the _Tatler_,) was not yet acquainted with all the Guilt of his Mother; but turns his Thoughts on her sudden Forgetfulness of his Father, and the Indecency of her hasty Marriage. The several Emotions of Mind, and Breaks of Pa.s.sion in this Speech, are admirable. He has touch'd every Circ.u.mstance that aggravated the Fact, and seem'd capable of hurrying the Thoughts of a Son into Distraction. His Father's Tenderness for his Mother, express'd in so delicate a Particular; his Mother's Fondness for his Father, no less exquisitely described; the great and amiable Figure of his dead Parent, drawn by a true Filial Piety; his Disdain of so unworthy a Successor to his Bed: But above all, the Shortness of the Time between his Father's Death, and his Mother's Second Marriage, brought together with so much Disorder, make up as n.o.ble a Part as any in that celebrated Tragedy. The Circ.u.mstance of Time I never could enough admire. The Widow-hood had lasted two Months. This is his first Reflection: But as his Indignation rises, he sinks to scarce two Months; afterwards into a Month; and at last, into a _little_ Month. But all this so naturally, that the Reader accompanies him in the Violence of his Pa.s.sion, and finds the Time lessen insensibly, according to the different Workings of his Disdain. I have not mentioned the Incest of her Marriage, which is so obvious a Provocation; but can't forbear taking Notice, that when his Fury is at its Height, he cries, _Frailty, thy Name is Woman!_ as Railing at the s.e.x in general, rather than giving himself leave to think his Mother worse than Others.”