d

LEAR.

We wish that we could pass this play over, and say nothing about it. All that we can say must fall far short of the subject, or even of what we ourselves conceive of it. To attempt to give a description of the play itself, or of its effects upon the mind, is mere impertinence: yet we must say something. It is then the best of all Shakspeare's plays, for it is the one in which he was the most in earnest. He was here fairly caught in the web of his own imagination. The passion which he has taken as his subject is that which strikes its root deepest into the human heart; of which the bond is the hardest to be unloosed; and the cancelling and tearing to pieces of which gives the greatest revulsion to the frame. This depth of nature, this force of passion, this tug and war of the elements of our being, this firm faith in filial piety, and the giddy anarchy and whirling tumult of the thoughts at finding this prop failing it, the contrast between the fixed, immovable basis of natural affection, and the rapid, irregular starts of imagination, suddenly wrenched from all its accustomed holds and resting places in the soul, this is what Shakspeare has given, and what nobody else but he could give. So we believe.-The mind of Lear, staggering between the weight of attachment and the hurried movements of passion, is like a tall ship driven about by the winds, buffeted by the furious waves, but i hat still rides above the storm, having its anchor fixed in the bottom of the sea; or it is like the sharp rock circled by the eddy. ing whirlpool that foams and beats against it, or like the solid promontory pushed from its basis by the force of an earthquake.

The character of Lear itself is yery finely conceived for the parpose. It is the only ground on which suchą story could be would be too painful, the shock too great, but for the intervention of the Fool, whose well-timed levity comes in to break the continuity of feeling when it can no longer be borne, and to bring into play again the fibres of the heart just as they are rigid from over-strained excitement. The imagination is glad to take refuge in the half.comio, half-serious comments of the Fool, just as the mind under the extreme anguish of a surgical operation vents itself in sallies of wit. The character was also a gro tesque ornament of the barbarous times, in which alone the tragic ground-work of the story could be laid. In another point of view it is indispensable, inasmuch as while it is a diversion to the too great intensity of our disgust, it carries the pathos to the highest pitch of which it is capable, by showing the pitiable weak. ness of the old king's conduct and its irretrievable consequences in the most familiar point of view. Lear may well " beat at the gate which let his folly in," after, as the Pool says, " he has made his daughters his mothers." The character is dropped in the third act to make room for the entrance of Edgar as mad Tom, which well accords with the increasing bustie and wild. ness of the incidents; and nothing can be more complete than the distinction between Lear's real and Elgar's assumed mad. ness, while the resemblance in the cause of their distresses, from the severing of the nearest ties of natural atlection, keeps up a unity of interest. Shakspeare's ma-tery over his subject, if it was not art, was owing to a knowledge of the connecting links of the passions, and their etfect upon the mind, still more wonderful than any systematic adherence to rules, and anticipated and outdid all the efforts of the most refined art, not inspired and render ed instinctive by genius.

One of the most perfect displays of dramatic power is the first interview between Lear and his daughter, after the designed affronts upon him, which, till one of his knights reminds him of them, his sanguine temperament had led him to overlook. He returns with his train from bunting, and his usual impatience breaks out in his first words, “ Let me not stay a yrt for dinner; go, get it ready." Ile then encounters the faithful Kent in dis guise, and retains him in his service; and the first trial of his honest duty is to trip up the heals of the oticuus Siew and, wlac makes so prominent and despicable a figure through the piece. On the entrance of Gonerill the following dialogue takes place :

a

“LEAR. How now, daughter? what makes that frontlet on? Methinks, you are too much of late i' the frown Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow, when thou had’st no need to care for her frowning ; now thou art an O without a figure; I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing. —Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; (To Gonerill.) So your face bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum.

He that keeps nor crust nor crum,

Weary of all, shall want some
That's a sheal'd peascod!

[Pointing to Lear.
GONERILL. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel ; breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endured riots.
I had thought, by making this well known unto you,
To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance ; which if you should, the fault
Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,
Which in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence
(Which else were shame), that then necessity
Would call discreet proceeding,
Fool. For you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,

That it had its head bit off by its young.
So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
LEAR. Are you our daughter ?

GONERILL. Come, sir,
I would you would make use of that good wisdom
Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away
These dispositions, which of late transform you
From what you rightly are.
Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws che horse !

-Whoop, Jug, I love thee.
LEAR. Does any here know me?- Why, this is not Lear :
Does Leir walk thus ? speak thus ?-Where are his eyes ?
Either his notion weakens, or his discernings
Are lethargy'd_Ha! waking ~Tis not so..

Who is it that can tell me who I am --Lear's shadow!
I would learn that : for by the marks
Of sov'reignty, of knowledge, and of reason,
I should be false persuaded I had daughters. —
Your name, fair gentlewoman?

GONERILL. Come, sir :
This admiration is much o' the favor
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:
As you are old and reverend, you should be wise :
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder'd, so debauch'd and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern, or a brothel,
Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doch speak
For instant remedy: be then desir'd
By her, that else will take the thing she beds,
A little to disquanlity your train;
And the remainder, that shall still depend,
To be sueh men as may besort your age,
And know themselves and you.

LEAR. Darkness and devils
Saddle my horse ; call my train together.
Degenerate bastard ! I'll not trouble thee.
Yet have I left a daughter,

Gonxull... You strike my people ; and your disorder'd rabble Make servants of their bettera.

Enter ALBANY
Luan. Wo, that too late repents—0, sir, are you come ?
Is it your will? speak, sur. - Prepare my horses -

[To Albany
Ingratitude ! thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hodeous, when thou abow'st thee in a child,
Than the sea-monster!

Alany. Pray, ar, be patient.

Lean Detested kile! thuu liest. [To Gonerull. My train are then of choice and rares parts, That all particulars of duty knew; And in the most exact meant support "The worship of theu naine, - small fauit, How ugly dules thou in findesa l' Wweb, like an riyine, wird his by frale of nature From the fu'd place; drew trvan my hear all iuve. And added to the gall. U Leas, lai, leur !

Beat at the gate, that let thy folly in, [Striking his head. And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people :

ALBANY. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant
Of what hath mov'd you.

LEAR. It may be so, my lord,
Hear, nature, hear ! dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility;
Dry up in her the organs of increase ;
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honor her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen : that it may live,
To be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mother's pains, and benefits,
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child Away, away!

[Erit. ALBANY. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes this?

GONERILL. Never afflict yourself to know the cause;
But let his disposition have that scope
That dotage gives it.

Re-enter LEAR.
LEAR. What, fifty of my followers at a clap!
Within a fortnight!

ALBANY. What's the matter, sir ?

LEAR. I'll tell thee ; life and death! I am asham'd That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus :

[To Gonerill,
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them._Blasts and frogs upon them
The untented woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee !

-Old fond eyes
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck you out ;
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay.-Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be so :-Yet have I left a daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable ;
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll dea thy wolfish visage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll resume the shape, which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever.

(Ereunt LEAR, KENT, and Attendanta." ,