A KEY to the figures at the end of each piece; as, 16-iv. 2. id est, King John, act iv. scene 2.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY.

"It may be said of Shakspeare, that from his works may be collected a system of civil and economical prudence. * He has himself been imitated

by all succeeding writers; and it may be doubted,
whether from all his successors more maxims of theoreti-
cal knowledge, or more rules of practical prudence, can
be collected, than he alone has given to his country."
DR. JOHNSON.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY.

1.

Gifts, not our own.

Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do;
Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 't were all alike

As if we had them nota. Spirits are not finely touch'd,
But to fine issues: nor nature never lends

The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and useb.

Thyself and thy belongings

Are not thine own so proper, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee.

3.

5-i. 1.

5-i. l.

Gifts bartered.

There's none

27-i. 2.

Can truly say, he gives, if he receives.

A night is but small breath, and little pause,
To answer matters of deep consequence.

20-ii. 4.

"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."-Matt. v. 15, 16.

b"He that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold I have gained beside them five talents more," &c.-Matt. xxv. 20, &c.

There's nothing, situate under heaven's eye,
But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky.

6.

Earth, Nature's mother.

14-ii. 1.

The earth, that's nature's mother, is her tomb;
What is her burying grave, that is her womb:
And from her womb, children of divers kind,
We sucking on her natural bosom find;
Many for many virtues excellent,

None but for some, and yet all different.

Labouring art can never ransom nature From her inaidable estate.

Nature is made better by no mean,

35-ii. 3.

But nature makes that mean: so, o'er that art,
Which, you say, adds to nature, is an art,

That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry

A gentler scion to the wildest stock;

And make conceive a bark of baser kind

By bud of nobler race; This is an art

Which does mend nature,―change it rather: but
The art itself is nature.

8.

11-ii. 1 & 13-iv. 3.

Omnipotence.

Can we outrun the heavens ?

9.

Divine sovereignty.

22-v. 2.

The words of heaven;-on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still 't is justa. 5-—i. 3.

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."Ps. cxxxix.

a This shows that Shakspeare had a most correct idea of the nature of Divine sovereignty:-" For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."-Rom. ix. 15.