The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-01

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Of great men, il, according to the proverb
il needs wit to know wit, one would hav,
thought that the men OF Shakspeare's TIM
could have appreciated him. Since the con
stelIation Of great men who appeared in tn,
age Of Pericles, in Greece, there never wa
such society in the world, yet their geniu
failed them to find out the best head in thu
universe. Our poets music was impenetra
bic, his incognito complete. They could
not see the mountain near. Ii took cen
tury to make it suspected, and not till two
centuries had passed after the death oil Shak
speare did any criticism which We think ade
quate begin 10 appear. Ii was 10 the trans
lation Of his works, the rapid bursts of Ger
man literature in modern times was IN 9
great measure to be ascribed. Various par
ties had attempted to elueidate his life and
works, but, said the lecturer, the geniu:
knows not Of them. The moment we come
at last to hear one golden word, it leaps oui
immortal from all this wretched mortality,
and sweetly torrents us with its invitations
TO its own inaccessible home. Shakespeare
is the only biographer Of Shakespeare, and
even he can tell nothing except to the Sbak-
speare in us, and that in our most appre-
hensive and sympathetic hour. From the
internal evidence in his works, Shakespeare,
instead Of being the least known, was the
best known of all history. What point Of
manner, morals, laws, history, religion, or
life, had he not touched upon--what mystery
had he not signifed his knowledge of-what
Office, or function, or district Of mems work
had he not remembered--to what king had
he not Taught siafe-what rnaidan had NOT
found him finer than delicacy-what lover
had he not out-loved-what sage not out
seen-what great man not instructed in the
rudeness Of his behaviour
Mr.. Emerson then proceeded, in glowing
language, to indicate some OF the causes OF
Shakspeare's superiority. Above all was a
sort Of eminent, omnipresent propriety, or,
lift deserves a wider name, humanity, which
reduced all parts to due accordance. There
was no discovery Of egotisn in him. The
great he told greatly, the small subordinate
ly; grace without emphasis. He was Strong
as nature, which lifts the lard into noun
tain slopes, without effort, by the same rule
as it floats bubble in the air, and looks as
well to do in the one as in tie other. He
thought there was nothing comparable in ma
ture to Shskspeare's delicacy Of expression.
One more trait, he said, he must stop to spe-
city, even in so general sketch, he meant
his cheerfulness, without which no man
could be poet, for beauty IS his am, he
loves virtue. not for its obligation, but for its
grace. The name Of Shakespeare suggests
Joy and emancipation TO the heart of man.
IL he appeared in the world of souls, who
would not march in his troopl He touches
nothing which does not borrow health and
longevity from his festive style.
Mr.. Emerson, in a tone OF eamestness
and with great beauty Of language and SEN
timent then said Shakespeare great quality
was to be entertaining, and the austere les
sons of solitude told MS we could do
without heroes and poets. He concluded:
GAS far as comparative talent and intellec-
tual power goes, the world Of man has not
his equal to show Bul, when the question
is to my life and its aUxilianes, how does he
profit me! what does it signify! it is but a
Ticelfh Night Midsummer's Dream, or
a Winters Tale; what signifies another's
pictures more or less? Well other men,
priest, and prophet, lsraelite, Egyptian, and
Swede, their eyes were opened also. They
saw, and to what purpose? The beauty
straightwsy vanished. They saw only the
commandment; an all-e1cluding duty; a
sadness, as il piled mountains fell upon
them; and life became chastity a pilgrims
progress; a probation, beleaguered round,
with purgatorial and venal fires, before US,
and the spirit Of the seer and OF the listener
was blighted, and the fountains Of life were
poisoned. 4. 1t is plain to me, who mediate
on these things, that they are half views,
that the iOorld still toants lis poet aud priest
IN one, one great reconciler, who shall not
stop short with Shakespeare, the poet. nor go
on like Swedenborg, the miner, but he who
comes shall see, speak, and act with equal
inspiration, for there is a knowledge that is
brighter than the sunshine, there is a right
more beautiful than private affection, and
there is love which is compatible with uni
versal wisdom"