Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/44

32 There has always prevailed a tradition, that Shakepeare wanted learning, that he had no regular education, nor much kill in the dead languages. Jonon, his friend, affirms, that he had mall Latin, and les Greek; who, beides that he had no imaginable temptation to alehood, wrote at a time when the character and acquiitions of Shakepeare were known to multitudes. His evidence ought therefore to decide the controvery, unles ome teftimony of equal force could be oppoed.

Some have imagined, that they have dicovered deep learning in many imitations of old writers; but the examples which I have known urged, were drawn from books tranlated in his time; or were uch eay coincidences of thought, as will happen to all who conider the ame ubjects; or uch remarks on life or axioms of morality as float in converation, and are tranmitted through the world in proverbial entences.

I have found it remarked, that, in this important entence, Go before, I'll follow, we read a tranlation of, I prae, equar. I have been told, that when Caliban, after a pleaing dream, ays, I cry’d to leep again, the author imitates Anacreon, who had, like every other man, the ame wih on the ame occaion.

There are a few paages which may pas for imitations, but o few, that the exception only confirms the rule; he obtained them from accidental quotations, or by oral communication, and as he ued what he had, would have ued more if he had obtained it. The