ence. These continue in poffeffion of the heart till the mind repofes and recovers vigour: And, if the conviction of injury ftill remains, and if our refentment seems justified by every amiable principle, by reafon and the fentiments of mankind, it will return with power and authority. Should any unintended incident awaken our fenfibility, and difpofe us to a state of mind favourable to the influences and operations of ardent and impetuous paffions, our refentment will revifit us at that precife period, and turn in its favour, and avail itself of every other fentiment and affection. The mind of Hamlet, weary and exhausted by violent agitation, continues doubtful and undecided, till his fenfibility, excited by a theatrical exhibition, reftores to their authority his indignation and defire of vengeance. Still, however, his moral principles, the fupreme and governing powers of his conftitution, conducting thofe paffions which they they seem to justify and excite, determine him again to examine his evidence, or endeavour, by additional circumstances, to have it strengthened. Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! A broken voice, and his whole function fuiting, What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her? What would he do, Yet, I fay, nothing; no, not for a king, I have heard, That guilty creatures, fitting at a play, Been Been ftruck fo to the foul, that presently Play fomething like the murder of my father Before mine uncle. I'll obferve his looks; I'll tent him to the I know my courfe. quick; if he but blench, The spirit, that I have feen, May be the devil; and the devil hath power Refolving to carry his project into execution, he conducts himself with his ufual candour and understanding. In an affair fo difficult and fo important, he does not confide in his own observations; but, in order to have his judgement rectified, in cafe of error, and to have his refentment tempered, in cafe of violence, he imparts his intention to Horatio. Hamlet, The expectancy and rofe of the fair state, knew う knew the fanctity of friendship, its uses, and its importance. His friend was not merely the partner of his amufements, to be his affociate in his pleasures, and to cherish his vanity by adulation: He was a friend to counsel and affist him in doubtful emergencies, to improve his heart, and correct his judgement. The qualities that distinguish Horatio, and render him worthy of the efteem of Hamlet, are not affluence, nor pageantry, nor gay accomplishments, nor vivacity, nor even wit, and uncommon genius, too often allied to an impetuous temper: He is diftinguifhed by that equanimity and independence of foul which arife from governed and corrected paffions, from a found and difcerning judgement, Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man, As e'er my converfation cop'd withal, Hor. Oh my dear Lord Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter: For what advancement may I hope from thee, That no revenue haft, but thy good spirits, Το To feed and cloath thee? Doft thou hear? Since my dear foul was mistress of her choice, Give me that man, That is not paffion's flave, and I will wear him Hamlet, by means of a dramatic exhibition, into which he had introduced the representation of his father's murder, having affured himself of the guilt of Claudius by his emotions, has no longer any doubt concerning the propriety of his refentment. If we are eagerly interested in any purfuit, whether of an end, or of a mean by which fome end may be accomplifhed, our fuccefs is ever attended with joy, even when the end we are pursuing is in itself a foundation of forrow. It fre quently * In quem manca ruit femper fortuna. Hor. |