the noble Originals of Antiquity buried in Oblivion. One would think that the Works of Sophocles, Euripides, &c. were Discoveries of the last Age only; and not that they had existed for fo many Centuries. There is fomething very astonishing in the general Ignorance and Dullness of Tafte, which for fo long a Time over-fpread the World, after it had been fo gloriously enlighten'd by Athens and Rome; especially as fo many of their excellent Master-pieces were ftill remaining, which one would have thought should have excited even the Brutes of those barbarous Ages to have examined them, and form'd themselves according to fuch Models. VOL. the 7th of Mr. Theobald's Shakespeare. Page 225. SCENE I. Bernardo and Francifco, two Centinels. Bernardo. Who's there? &c. NOTHING can be more conformable to Reason, than that the Beginning of all Dramatick Performances (and indeed of every other kind of Poefie) fhould be with the greatest Simplicity, that fo our Paffions may be work'd apon by Degrees. This Rule is very happily obferv'd in this Play; and it has this Advantage over many others, that it has Majesty and Sim plicity city joined together. For this whole preparatory Difcourfe to the Ghoft's coming in, at the fame Time that it is neceffary towards laying open the Scheme of the Play, creates an Awe and Attention in the Spectators, fuch as very well fits them to receive the Appearance of a Meffenger from the other World, with all the Terror and Serioufnefs neceffary on the Occafion. And furely the Poer has manag'd the Whole in fuch a Manner, that it is all entirely Natural: And tho' moft Men are well enough arm'd against all Belief of the Appearances of Ghofts, yet they are forced, during the Representation of this Piece, entirely to fufpend their moft fixed Opinions, and believe that they do actually fee a Phantom, and that the whole Plot of the Play is justly and naturally founded upon the Appearance of this Spectre. Page 227. Marcell.] HORATIO fays 'tis but our And will not let Belief take hold of Him, THESE Speeches help greatly to deceive us; for it fhews one of the principal Perfons C of of the Drama to be as incredulous, in Relation to the Appearance of Phantoms, as we can be; but that he is at laft convinc'd of his Error by the Help of his Eyes. For it is a Maxim entirely agreeable to Truth, if we confider human Nature, that whatever is fupernatural or improbable, is much more likely to gain Credit with us, if it be introduced as fuch, and talk'd of as fuch by the Perfons of the Drama, but at last prov'd to be true, tho' an extraordinary Thing, than if it were brought in as a Thing highly probable, and no one were made to boggle at the Belief of it. The Reason of this feems to be, that we can for once, upon a very great Occasion, allow fuch an Incident as this to have happen'd, if it be brought in as a Thing of great Rarity; but we can by no means fo fufpend our Judgment and Knowledge, or deceive our Understandings, as to grant That to be common and ufual which we know to be entirely Supernatural and Improbable. Page 227. HERE it is certain, nothing could be better tim'd than the Entrance of this Spectre; for he comes in and convinces Horatio, to fave Marcellus the Trouble of repeating the whole Story, which would have been tiresome to the Spectators, as thefe Gentlemen were obliged foon after to relate the Whole to Prince Hamlet. Ho HORATIO's Speeches to the Apparition are exceeding Natural, Aweful, and Great, and well fuited to the Occafion and his own Character. What art Thou, that ufurpeft this Time of Night, Together with that fair and warlike Form, In which the Majefty of buried Denmark Did fome Time march? By Heaven, I charge thee Speak. Page 227. The other is Page 230. Stay Illufion! If thou haft any Sound, or Use of Voice, If there be any good Thing to be done, If thou art privy to thy Country's Fate, Or if thou haft uphoarded in thy Life Speak of it,-Stay and speak!-Stop it Marcellus. HIS defiring Marcellus to ftop it, is allo much in Nature, because it fhews a Perturbation of Mind, very much to be expected at fuch an Incident. For he must know, be ing a Scholar, (as they term him) that Spirits could not be stopp'd as Corporeal Subftances can. But to return to Page 228. Bernardo, How now Horatio! you tremble and look pale, &c. THIS is entirely in Nature, for it cannot be fuppofed, that any Man, tho' never fo much endu'd with Fortitude, could fee fo ftrange a Sight, fo fhocking to human Nature, without fome Commotion of his Frame, although the Bravery of his Mind makes him. get the better of it. Page 228. Horatio, Before my God, I might not this Without the fenfible and true Avouch THIS Speech ftill helps on our Deception, for the Reasons I have already given, Page 228. Horatio, Such was the very Armour be bad on, &c. I HAVE |