TO CXLIV. ON the character of Shakspeare's Timon CXLV. On the genius of Schiller, the German CXLVI. An epistle in verse CXLVII. Melai, a Constantinopolitan tale CXLVIII. The same concluded CXLIX. Observations on pastoral poetry CL. Remarks on Herodotus.-On the state of ...... CLI. On the character and writings of Drum- CLII. On the irrational pursuits of Virtu. Mar- PAGE. 1 anecdote 120 a fragment.... bert Stuart. Gregory CLV. Critical remarks on some celebrated au- CLVI. Petition of the Sharks. The African Boy, CLVII. Critical remarks continued.-Gibbon. Gil- CLVIII. Critical remarks continued. Classical - CLXVI. Critical remarks continued.-Italian li- Goldoni. Tasso. Ariosto. ni. Metastasio CLXVII. On the coalition between painting and poetry. To Sylvia, a poem CLXX. Critical remarks continued.-Spanish literature. Cervantes. Mexio. Ma- 285 Shakspeare as a dramatic writer-a rhymer. Milton's Paradise Lost. Al- legro. Penseroso. Lycidas. Comus 306 CLXXVI. Critical observations on Scottish songs 377 394. CLXXXIV. The Will, an Arabian tale. Ode to CLXXXV. On the nature of inscriptive writing. Inscriptions from the Greek, from .... THE GLEANER. No. CXLIV. -Goodness wounds itself, And sweet affection proves the spring of woe. SHAKSPEARE. THE character of Timon of Athens presents a delineation of sudden change in the principles of human action, which, though drawn by the pen of Shakspeare himself, whose knowledge of the heart appears almost intuitive, has been censured as extravagant and unnatural. The glowing generosity, the indefatigable friendship, the expansive openness of soul, which mark the earlier features of the character of Timon, are suddenly, on a change of fortune which discovers treachery in his supposed friends, subverted to their foundation. The whole mental scene, shifting with rapidity and violence, presents in their room the most inveterate and ferocious VOL. IV. B detestation directed against all mankind. In my mind, the poet has here only afforded another proof of the keenness of that penetration which, glancing through all the springs and movers of the human soul, fixes the changing features of the mental portrait, and holds a mirror to nature herself. He perceived, that on the ruins of our best feelings the temple of misanthropy is ever erected. The force of this truth he has exemplified by characters, stamped with the kindliest affections of nature, containing those propensities on which the fairest structure of human happiness is raised, in which those benefits, so far from tending to their proper end, ill managed and abused, involve their possessors in delusion and misery, and naturally end in a frame of mind inimical to mankind, and incapable of felicity. Of these Timon is one; although inconsiderate ostentation forms a striking feature in the delineation of Shakspeare, the violence of misanthropy is to be traced to other causes; and we are led to exclaim from a thorough knowledge of his character, with the faithful Flavius, Poor, honest lord, brought low by his own heart, To follow the general idea of the poet more |