Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/29

Rh are ufficiently ditinguihed from his clowns by any appearance of refined manners. Whether he repreented the real converation of his time is not eay to determine; the reign of Elizabeth is commonly uppoed to have been a time of tatelines, formality, and reerve, yet perhaps the relaxations of that everity were not very elegant. There mut, however, have been always ome modes of gaiety preferable to others, and a writer ought to chue the bet.

In tragedy his performance eems contantly to be wore, as his labour is more. The effuions of paion, which exigence forces out, are for the mot part triking and energetick; but whenever he olicits his invention, or trains his faculties, the offspring of his throes is tumour, meannes, tediounes, and obcurity.

In narration he affects a diproportionate pomp of diction, and a weariome train of circumlocution, and tells the incident imperfectly in many words, which might have been more plainly delivered in few. Narration in dramatick poetry is naturally tedious, as it is unanimated and inactive, and obtructs the progres of the action; it hould therefore always be rapid, and enlivened by frequent interruption. Shakepeare found it an encumbrance, and intead of lightening it by brevity, endeavoured to recommend it by dignity and plendor.

His declamations or et peeches are commonly cold and weak, for his power was the power of nature; when he endeavoured, like other tragick Rh