www flattering fpeeches, and all the craftieft meanes fhe could, should purpofely feek to allure his mind to have his pleasure of her.— To this end certain courtiers were appointed to lead Hamblet into a folitary place within the woods, where they brought the woman, inciting him to take their pleasures together. And furely the poor prince at this affault had been in great danger, if a gentleman, that in Horvandille's time had been nourished with him had not fhowne himselfe more affectioned to the bringing up he had received with Hamblet, than defirous to please the tyrant. This gentleman bare the courtiers company, making full account that the leaft fhewe of perfect fenfe and wif dome that Hamblet should make, would be sufficient to caufe him to lose his life; and therefore by certain fignes he gave Hamblet intelligence in what danger he was like to fall, if by any meanes he feemed to obaye, or once like the wanton toys and vicious provocations of the gentlewoman fent thither by his uncle which much abafhed the prince, as then wholly being in affection to the lady. But by her he was likewife informed of the treafon, as one that from her infancy loved and favoured him. The prince in this fort having deceived the courtiers and the ladye's expectation, that affirmed and fwore he never once offered to have his pleasure of the woman, though in fubtility he affirmed the contrary, every man thereupon affured themselves that without doubt he was diftraught of his fenfes ;fo that as then Fengon's practice took no effect." al In another part of the play, Hamiet will not kill the king while at his devotions, left he might fend his foul to heaven. This is diabolical revenge. It is excufed in the play, on the old principle of retaliation, which had taken fast hold of men's minds, aud obfcured the dictates of common humanity. This is the best excufe probably that can be affigned; yet, in this edition, we find another inftance of the fame infernal malice. I think it not improbable that when Shakspeare put this horrid fentiment into the mouth of Hamlet, he might have recollected the following ftory: "One of thefe monflers meeting his enemie unarmed, threatned to kill him if he denied not God, his power, and effential properties, viz. his mercy, fuffrance, &c. the which, when the other defiring life pronounced with great horror, kneeling upon his knees: the bravo cried out, nowe will I kill thy body and foule, and at that inftant thrust him through with his rapier." Brief Difcourfe of the Spanish State, with a Dialogue annexed, intitled Philobafilis. 4to. 1590, p. 21. Editor.' We must not conclude our review of this edition without a little farther notice of the various contributors to it. Independent of the former notes we have already observed, that thofe contained in Mr. Malone's Supplement are inferted in C 4 their their proper places. Mr. Malone's own notes are very valuable, and his corrections from the folios highly useful. The late Dr. Blackstone's notes are fo clear, explicit, and fatisfactory, they display fuch varied knowlege, and are fo eminently diftinguished for their explanation of thofe cuftoms which are connected with the ftatute-law, that they add greatly to the value of this edition. While the tenth volume lies open before us, we shall transcribe one very useful note relating to Hamlet. I agree with Mr. Steevens, that the crown of Denmark (as in most of the Gothic kingdoms) was elective, and not hereditary; though it might be customary, in elections, to pay fome attention to the royal blood, which by degrees produced hereditary fucceffion. Why then do the rest of the commentators fo often treat Claudius as an ufurper, who had deprived young Hamlet of his right by heirfhip to his father's crown? Hamlet calls him drunkard, murderer, and villain; one who had carried the election by low and mean practices; had had Popt in between the election and my hopes-" "From a fhelf the precious diadem stole, And put it in his pocket:" but never hints at his being an ufurper. His discontent arose from his uncle's being preferred before him, not from any legal right which he pretended to fet up to the crown. Some regard was probably had to the recommendation of the preceding prince, in electing the fucceffor. And, therefore, young Hamlet had" the voice of the king himself for his fucceffion in Denmark;" and he at his own death prophefies that "the election would light on Fortinbras, who had his dying voice," conceiving that by the death of his uncle, he himself had been king for an inftant, and had therefore a right to recommend. When in the fourth act, the rabble wished to choose Laertes king, I understood that antiquity was forgot, and cuftom violated, by electing a new king in the life-time of the old one, and perhaps alfo by the calling in a stranger to the royal blood. Blackstone.' Mr. Steevens and fir Joshua Reynolds have also added to their former notes; and they have, as ufual, greatly contributed to our inftruction. Mr. Henderson, whofe name frequently occurs, has chiefly elucidated Shakspeare, by quotations from authors of the fixteenth century; but we have al ready obferved, that we have not remarked any explanations peculiarly happy, or any quotations very pointed and appofite, The author of the Remarks on the laft Edition of Shakspeare,' has occurred in our ufual courfe; and we have already affigned to him his proper rank. Mr. Monck Mason also contributes his fhare to thefe notes. We would not overlook his labours, left left it might be attributed to former differences in opinion. He is a careful and attentive commentator. In fome inftances he appears, like Dr. Warburton, too refined; but he is neither deficient in diligence, attention, or fagacity. His beft remarks appear to us to be those on Lear. We shall felect one where the fubject is well elucidated by quotations. Edmund obferves, 66-- Hardly fhall I carry out my fide, Her (Goneril's) husband being alive." That is, "I shall scarcely be able to make out my game." The allufion is to a party at cards, and he is afraid that he fhall not be able to make his fide fuccefsful. So, in Ben Johnson's Silent Woman, Centaure fays of Epicene: "She and Mavis will fet up a fide." That is, will be partners. And in Mafinger's Unnatural Combat, Belgard fays: 66 and if now At this downright game, I may but hold your cards, In the Maid's Tragedy, the fame expreffion occurs: Dula. I will refuse it; She will pluck down a fide, she does not use it." But the phrafe is more clearly explained in Maffinger's Great Duke of Florence, where Cozemo fays to Petronella, who had challenged him to drink a fecond bowl of wine: "Pray you, pause a little, If I hold your cards, I fhall pull down the fide; I am not good at the game." Monck Mason.' To the editor we have already paid our tribute of applause; and those contributors whom we have omitted are not neglected from disrespect, but from the impoffibility of mentioning every one, or giving any character of those who have furnished but little. On the whole, we think this edition very valuable, and greatly fuperior to every one which has preceded it. The Anatomy of the Absorbing Vessels of the Human Body. By William Cruikshank. 4to. 125. in Boards. Nicol. ין T is somewhat remarkable that a discovery in anatomy, of no less practical importance than that of the circulation of the blood, fhould not have been illuftrated and explained in diftinct publications. We may fay, without offence, that to have discovered the absorbing veffels, and to have ascertained their diftinct and feparate offices, is the claim of Britain; yet, if their proper places. Mr. Malone's own notes are very valu able, and his corrections from the folios highly ufeful. The late Dr. Blackstone's notes are fo clear, explicit, and fatisfactory, they display fuch varied knowlege, and are fo eminently diftinguished for their explanation of thofe cuftoms which are connected with the statute-law, that they add greatly to the value of this edition. While the tenth volume lies open before us, we shall transcribe one very useful note relating to Hamlet. I agree with Mr. Steevens, that the crown of Denmark (as in most of the Gothic kingdoms) was elective, and not hereditary; though it might be customary, in elections, to pay fome attention to the royal blood, which by degrees produced hereditary fucceffion. Why then do the rest of the commentator fo often treat Claudius as an ufurper, who had deprived youn Hamlet of his right by heirship to his father's crown? Hamle calls him drunkard, murderer, and villain; one who had carrie the election by low and mean practices; had had "Popt in between the election and my hopes-" "From a fhelf the precious diadem stole, And put it in his pocket:" but never hints at his being an ufurper. His difcontent at from his uncle's being preferred before him, not from any right which he pretended to fet up to the crown. Some re was probably had to the recommendation of the prece prince, in electing the fucceffor. And, therefore, young Ha had the voice of the king himself for his fucceffion in mark;" and he at his own death prophefies that "the el would light on Fortinbras, who had his dying voice," co ing that by the death of his uncle, he himself had beer for an inftant, and had therefore a right to recommend. in the fourth act, the rabble wished to choose Laertes k understood that antiquity was forgot, and cuftom viola electing a new king in the life-time of the old one, a haps alfo by the calling in a stranger to the royal blood. ftone.' Mr. Steevens and fir Joshua Reynolds have alfo a their former notes; and they have, as ufual, greati buted to our inftruction. Mr. Henderson, whose r quently occurs, has chiefly elucidated Shakspeare, ations from authors of the fixteenth century; but w ready obferved, that we have not remarked any ex peculiarly happy, or any quotations very pointed an The author of the Remarks on the last Edition of S has occurred in our ufual courfe; and we have alrea to him his proper rank. Mr. Monck Mason alfo his fhare to these notes. We would not overlook 1 |