ADVERTISEMENT

PREFIXED TO

THE THIRD EDITION, 1789.

IT may be neceffary to apologize for the republication of this pamphlet. The fact is, it has been for a good while extremely fcarce, and fome mercenary publishers were induced by the extravagant price, which it has occafionally borne, to project a new edition without the confent of the author.

A few corrections might probably be made, and many additional proofs of the argument have neceffarily occurred in more than twenty years: fome of which may be found in the late admirable editions of our POET, by Mr. Steevens and Mr. Reed.

But, perhaps enough is already faid on fo light a fubject:-A fubject, however, which had for a long time pretty warmly divided the criticks upon Shakspeare.

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

LEARNING OF SHAKSPEARE:

ADDRESSED TO

JOSEPH CRADOCK, ESQ.

"SHAKSPEARE," fays a brother of the craft, " is a vaft garden of criticism :" and certainly no one can be favoured with more weeders gratis. But how often, my dear fir, are weeds and flowers torn up indiscriminately?—the ravaged spot is replanted in a moment, and a profufion of critical thorns thrown over it for fecurity.

"A prudent man, therefore, would not venture his fingers amongst them."

Be however in little pain for your friend, who regards himself sufficiently to be cautious :-yet he afferts with confidence, that no improvement can be expected, whilft the natural foil is mistaken for a hot-bed, and the natives of the banks of Avon are fcientifically choked with the culture of exoticks.

'Mr. Seward, in his Preface to Beaumont and Fletcher, 10 Vols. 8vo. 1750.

Thus much for metaphor; it is contrary to the ftatute to fly out fo early: but who can tell, whether it may not be demonftrated by fome critick or other, that a deviation from rule is peculiarly happy in an Effay on Shakspeare!

66

You have long known my opinion concerning the literary acquifitions of our immortal dramatist; and remember how I congratulated myself on my coincidence with the last and best of his editors. I told you, however, that his fmall Latin and lefs Greek would ftill be litigated, and you fee very affuredly that I was not miftaken. The trumpet hath been founded against " the darling project of representing Shakspeare as one of the illiterate vulgar;" and indeed to fo good purpose, that I would by all means recommend the performer to the army of the braying faction, recorded by Cervantes. The teftimony of his contemporaries is again difputed; conftant tradition is oppofed by flimfy arguments; and nothing is heard, but confufion and nonsense. One could fcarcely imagine this a topick very likely to inflame the paffions: it is afferted by Dryden, that " those who accufe him to have wanted learning, give him the greatest commendation;" yet an attack upon an article of faith hath been usually received with more temper and complacence, than the unfortunate opinion which I am about to defend.

But let us previously lament with every lover of

2 This paffage of Ben Jonson, so often quoted, is given us in the admirable preface to the late edition, with a various reading, "fmall Latin and no Greek," which hath been held up to the publick for a modern sophistication: yet whether an error or not, It was adopted above a century ago by W. Towers, in a panegyrick on Cartwright. His eulogy, with more than fifty others, on this now forgotten poet, was prefixed to the edit. 1651.

Shakspeare, that the queftion was not fully difcuffed by Mr. Johnson himself: what he fees intuitively, others must arrive at by a series of proofs; and I have not time to teach with precifion: be contented therefore with a few curfory obfervations, as they may happen to arife from the chaos of papers, you have fo often laughed at, " a flock fufficient to fet up an editor in form." I am convinced of the ftrength of my cause, and superior to any little advantage from fophiftical arrangements.

General pofitions without proofs will probably have no great weight on either fide, yet it may not feem fair to fupprefs them: take them therefore as their authors occur to me, and we will afterward proceed to particulars.

The teftimony of Ben. ftands foremost; and fome have held it fufficient to decide the controverfy in the warmeft panegyrick, that ever was written, he apologizes 3 for what he fuppofed the only defect in his beloved friend,

Soul of the age!

• Th' applause! delight! the wonder of our stage!'—

whofe memory he honoured almost to idolatry:" and confcious of the worth of ancient literature, like any other man on the fame occafion, he rather carries his acquirements above, than below the truth. Jealoufy!" cries Mr. Upton; " people will allow others any qualities, but those upon which they highly value themfelves." Yes, where there is a competition, and the competitor formidable: but, I think, this critick himself hath fcarcely fet in oppofition the learning of Shakspeare and Jonfon.

3 « Though thou hadft Small Latin," &é.

1