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slight an impression upon an audience, that, when the curtain is dropped, they immediately discourse upon the splendour of Imogen's bed-chamber, the becoming dress she wore as a boy, and the dexterity with which Iachimo crept out, and crept into his coffer; without bestowing equal observation upon any of those sorrows or joys, which they have just seen exhibited.

Still the impossibility, that half the events in this play could ever occur, cannot be the sole cause of its weak effect. Shakspeare's scenes are frequently such as could not take place in real life; and yet the sensations which they excite are so forcible, that improbability is overpowered by the author's art, and his auditors are made to feel, though they cannot believe.

No such magic presides over the play of Cymbe « line," as to transform reason into imagination-the spectator may be pleased, but cannot be impassioned. The only scene which approaches the pathetic, is that where Imogen is informed by Pisanio of her husband's command, that she should be murdered;-and this is a vengeance so unlike the forgiving temper of an English courtier, upon similar occasions, that it appears as if the air of Italy had, as she suspects, infected the loving Posthumus with that nation's predominant crimes, and no one heart is deeply affected by so extraordinary an occurrence.

The young mountaineers, the brothers of Imogen, are pleasing figures, among the large group of personages here collected; but still their forest dresses, more than their business in the scene, amuse the spec

tator. Or, if he be moved by any concern about them, it is with hatred, at the inhuman boasting of Guiderius, that he has-" cut off one Cloten's head, son to the queen, and sent it down the river, to tell his mother," &c. Whoever Cloten was, or whatever ill he might threaten, yet, for the author to make this youthful forester lay his foolish enemy dead at his feet, and then be facetious over the horrid act, was sinking him beneath the common bravo, who is ever pourtrayed grim and gloomy, as the good sign that he is still a man, and has a conscience capable of remorse.

Johnson concludes his commentaries on the tragedy of "Cymbeline" (in which he bestows little praise, except on the soliloquy of Posthumus, when he supposes Imogen has been put to death) with this general criticism.

"This play has many just sentiments, some natural dialogues, and some pleasing scenes; but they are obtained at the expence of much incongruity. To remark the folly of the fiction, the absurdity of the conduct, the confusion of the names, and manners of different times, and the impossibility of the events, in any system of life, were to waste criticism upon unresisting imbecillity, upon faults too evident for detection, and too gross for aggravation."

How would a modern author writhe under a critique that should accuse his drama, of only one half of these failings!-Yet "Cymbeline" survives this just attack-and will live admired, and esteemed, to the end of time.

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CYMBELINE.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

Britain.

The Garden of CYMBELINE's Palace.

Enter PISANIO and MADAN.

Pisanio. You do not meet a man, but frowns: our bloods

No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers;
Still seem, as does the king's.

Mad. But what's the matter?

Pisanio. Are you so fresh a stranger, to ask that?
His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom, whom
He purposed to his wife's sole son (a widow,
That late he married,) hath referred herself
Unto a poor, but worthy gentleman: She's wedded;
Her husband banish'd-she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

Mad. None but the king?
Pisanio. Not a courtier,

Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.

Mad. And why so?

Pisanio. He, that hath miss'd the princess, is a thing
Too bad for bad report; and he, that hath her
(I mean, that married her, alack, good man!
And therefore banish'd,) is a creature, such
As, to seek through the regions of the earth
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him, that should compare.

Mad. His name and birth?
Pisanio. His father

Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan;

So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus :

He had, besides this gentleman in question,

Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time,

Died with their swords in hand; for which, their father,

Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceased
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber :
Puts to him all the learnings, that his time
Could make him the receiver of! which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Lived in court,
Which rare it is to do, most praised, most loved;
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards.

Mad. I honour him

Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell me,
Is she sole child to the king?

Pisanio. His only child.

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