An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespear: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets; with Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de VoltaireThis historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1810. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... UPON THE DEATH or JULIUS CiESAR; THE Tragedies of Cinna, and Julius Caesar, are each of them the representation of a conspiracy ; but it cannot be denied that our countryman has been by far more judicious in his choice of the story. An abortive scheme, in which some people of obscure fame were engaged, and even in whom, as they are represented, the enterprise was pardoned, more from contempt of their abilities and power, than the clemency of the emperor, makes a poor figure in contrast with that conspiracy, which, formed by the first characters in Rome, effected the destruction of the greatest man the world ever produced, and was succeeded by the most memorable consequences. History furnishes various examples of men of base and treacherous natures, of dissolute manners, ruined fortunes, and lost reputations, uniting in horrid association to destroy their prince. Ambition Ambition often cuts itself a bloody way to greatness.--Exasperated misery sometimes plunges its desperate dagger in the breast of the oppressor. The cabal of a court, the mutiny of a camp, the wild zeal of fanatics, have too frequently produced events of that nature. But this conspiracy was formed of very different elements. It was the genius of Rome, the rights of her constitution, the spirit of her laws, that rose against the ambition of Caesar; they steeled the heart, and whetted the dagger of the mild, the virtuous, the gentle Brutus, to give the mortal wound, not to a tyrant, who had fastened fetters on his fellow-citizens, but to the conqueror, who had made almost the whole world wear their chains; and who was then preparing to subdue the only empire that remained unsubjected to them. Can there be a subject more worthy of the Tragic Muse, than an action so important in its consequences, an.... |
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Page 56
... history , that it teaches philosophy by expe- rience , this species of history must be allowed to be the best preceptor . The catastrophe of these plays is not derived from a vain and idle fable of the wrath of Juno , or the revenge of ...
... history , that it teaches philosophy by expe- rience , this species of history must be allowed to be the best preceptor . The catastrophe of these plays is not derived from a vain and idle fable of the wrath of Juno , or the revenge of ...
Page 67
... history and traditions of those more recent transactions , in which the spectator was in- formed and interested more personally and locally . There was not a family so low , that had not had fome of its branches torn off in the storms ...
... history and traditions of those more recent transactions , in which the spectator was in- formed and interested more personally and locally . There was not a family so low , that had not had fome of its branches torn off in the storms ...
Page 82
... history , but then a romantic paffion is added to it , and to which both events and characters are ren- dered fubfervient . Shakespear , in various nature wife , does not confine himself to any particular passion . When he writes from ...
... history , but then a romantic paffion is added to it , and to which both events and characters are ren- dered fubfervient . Shakespear , in various nature wife , does not confine himself to any particular passion . When he writes from ...
Contents
NTRODUCTION | 1 |
On Dramatic Poetry | 23 |
On the Hiſtorical Drama | 55 |
Copyright | |
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abſurd addreſs admired Æschylus allegory anſwer ANTONY ariſe aſſiſt aſſume Auguſtus baſe beſt blood Brutus Cæfar Caffius cauſe character Cinna circumſtances compoſitions conſpiracy conſpirators Corneille critic cuſtoms defire deſign diſpoſitions drama Edmond Malone Emilia Engliſh eſtabliſhed Euripides expoſe expreſſed fable falſe fame faſhion firſt French genius greatneſs heart heav'n hiſtorical honour imitation intereſt itſelf juſt king leſs Macbeth manners maſter mind moſt muſe muſt myſelf nature neceſſary obſerved occaſion paſſions perſon philoſophy piece play pleaſe pleaſure poet poetry preſent preſerved purpoſes racter raiſed reaſon remorſe repreſentation repreſented reſemblance reſpect riſe Roman ſame ſays ſcene ſecrets ſee ſeems ſenſe ſentiments ſet Shakespear ſhall ſhe ſhew ſhould ſituation ſome ſon ſpeak ſpear ſpecies ſpectator ſpeech ſpirit ſtage ſtate ſtill ſtory ſtrong ſtyle ſubjects ſublime ſuch ſuggeſted ſuperior ſuperſtitions ſuppoſed ſweet ſympathy Tacitus taſte thee theſe thoſe thou tion tragedy tranſlation univerſal uſe verſe Voltaire whoſe МАСВЕТн