Part 5 (1/2)

_Horatio's_ earned Desire to die with the Prince, (_p. 365, and Sequel_,) thus not to survive his Friend, gives a stronger Idea of his Friends.h.i.+p for _Hamlet_ in the few Lines on that Occasion, than many Actions or Expressions could possibly have done. And _Hamlet's_ begging him to _draw his Breath in this Harsh World_ a little longer, to clear his Reputation and manifest his Innocence, is very suitable to his virtuous Character, and the honest Regard that all Men should have not to be misrepresented to Posterity; that they may not let a bad Example, when in reality they have set a good one; which is the only Motive that can, in Reason, recommend the Love of Fame and Glory.

Page 366.

When the Amba.s.sadors from _England_ say,

_Where shall we have our Thanks?_

And _Horatio_ answers,

_Not from his Mouth, He never gave_, &c.

I wonder that Mr. _Theobalds_ should see any Difficulty in this; for it is but applying to the King what _Horatio_ says, who knew the whole Affair, and then his Answer is just and true; and indeed, I think it cannot well be understood in any other Sense from the whole Tenour of the Pa.s.sage.

Horatio's Desire of having the Bodies carried to a Stage, &c. is very well imagined, and was the best way of satisfying the Request of his deceased Friend. And he acts in this, and in all Points, suitably to the manly, honest Character under which he is drawn throughout the whole Piece. Besides, it gives a sort of Content to the Audience, that tho'

their Favourite (which must be _Hamlet_) did not escape with Life, yet the greatest amends will be made him, which can be in this World, viz.

Justice done to his Memory.

Fortinbra.s.s comes in very naturally at the Close of this Play, and lays a very just Claim to the Throne of _Denmark_, as he had the dying Voice of the Prince. He in few Words gives a n.o.ble Character of _Hamlet_, and serves to carry off the deceased Hero from the Stage with the Honours due to his Birth and Merit.

I shall close these Remarks with some general Observations, and shall avoid (as I have hitherto done) repeating any Thing which has been said by others, at least as much as I possibly can: Nor do I think it necessary to make an ostentatious Shew of Learning, or to draw quaint Parallels between our Author and the great Tragic Writers of Antiquity; for in Truth, this is very little to the Purpose in reviewing _Shakespeare's_ Dramatic Works; since most Men are I believe convinced, that he is very little indebted to any of them; and a remarkable Influence of this is to be observed in his Tragedy of _Troilus_ and _Cressida_, wherein it appears (as Mr. _Theobalds_ has evidently demonstrated it,) that he has chosen an old _English_ Romance concerning the _Trojan_ War, as a worthier Guide than even _Homer_ himself. Nature was our great Poet's Mistress; her alone has he followed as his Conductress; and therefore it has been with regard to her only, that I have considered this Tragedy. It is not to be denied, but that _Shakespeare's_ Dramatic Works are in general very much mix'd; his Gold is strangely mingled with Dross in most of his Pieces. He fell too much into the low Taste of the Age he liv'd in, which delighted in miserable Puns, low Wit, and affected sententious Maxims; and what is most unpardonable in him, he has interspersed his n.o.blest Productions with this Poorness of Thought. This I have shewn in my Remarks on this Play.

Yet, notwithstanding the Defects I have pointed out, it is, I think, beyond Dispute, that there is much less of this in _Hamlet_ than in any of his Plays; and that the Language in the Whole, is much more pure, and much more free from Obscurity or Bombast, than any of our Author's Tragedies; for sometimes _Shakespeare_ may be justly tax'd with that Fault. And we may moreover take Notice, that the Conduct of this Piece is far from being bad; it is superior in that respect (in my Opinion) to many of those Performances in which the Rules are said to be exactly kept to. The Subject, which is of the nicest Kind, is managed with great Delicacy, much beyond that Piece wherein _Agamemnon's_ Death is revenged by his Son _Orestes_, so much admired by all the Lovers of Antiquity; for the Punishment of the Murderer alone by the Son of the murdered Person, is sufficient; there is something too shocking in a Mother's being put to Death by her Son, although she be never so guilty.

_Shakespeare's_ Management in this Particular, has been much admired by one of our greatest Writers, who takes Notice of the beautiful Caution given by the Ghost to _Hamlet_,

_But howsoever thou pursuest this Act_, &c.