Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/31

Rh A quibble is to Shakepeare, what luminous vapours are to the traveller; he follows it at all adventures; it is ure to lead him out of his way, and ure to engulf him in the mire. It has ome malignant power over his mind, and its facinations are irreitible. Whatever be the dignity or profundity of his diquiition, whether he be enlarging knowledge or exalting affection, whether he be amuing attention with incidents, or enchaining it in upene, let but a quibble pring up before him, and he leaves his work unfinihed. A quibble is the golden apple for which he will always turn aide from his career, or toop from his elevation. A quibble, poor and barren as it is, gave him uch delight, that he was content to purchae it, by the acrifice of reaon, propriety, and truth. A quibble was to him the fatal Cleopatra for which he lot the world, and was content to loe it.

It will be thought trange, that, in enumerating the defects of this writer, I have not yet mentioned his neglect of the unities; his violation of thoe laws which have been intituted and etablihed by the joint authority of poets and of criticks.

For his other deviations from the art of writihg, I reign him to critical jutice, without making any other demand in his favour, than that which mut be indulged to all human excellence; that his virtues be rated with his failings: but, from the cenure which this irregularity may bring upon him, I hall, with due reverence to that learning which I mut oppoe, adventure to try how I can defend him. Rh