New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-28

says The speciality OF these notes commits IN the
fact that instead Of casting about for curious and
fr.fs,ched cancellations Of the receivedteIt they
aim at showing that the obvious Specification Of
shaisperes poetry 10 not only the true sense, bat
the best and that hence, no intelligent man needs
the aid Of critics to help him to the conprehen-
rsn ard enjoyment Of nearly every passage
which came from Shakspere's pen. The reader
whs cannot appreciate Shakspere without the as
sistance of their explanatory notes can DO no
better with them; and to all others, they are
either stumblisg block or foolishness. Waving,
therefore, such unnecessary attempts Mr.. White
gives us bis swn impressions as to the force and
beauty Of the passages on which he comments.
He addresses the sympathies Of Shaksperian en-
thusastS sa1her than the analytic faculty, and
with slieM reference to the most eminent Of
his critical predecessors often suggests views
that challenge attention both by their novelty
and their genuine insight. Even where be does
not command assent to his conclusions, he wins
the respect Of the reader by his earnestness and
selfYeliance.
His remarks on Measure for Measure" are
among the most lsbored in the volume, and be-
tray fine discrimination as regards the charac-
ter of Shsksperian portraitures in that play.
The principal personages, says Mr.. White, in
stead of being unndividualized men and women
are distinctly drawn embodiments OF types, clear
" if not strongly marked. There are rulers, up
right in intention, and not wanting in wisdom,
bat " no lack administrative force, and who, half
conscious of their failing, seek on some pretense
to effect that by the hands Of others which their
Owl weak wills have failed to consunnnate. They
are thoughtful when they should be active; and
ere employed in analyzing the causes or tracing
the consequences Of crime, when their energies
should be bent on it's prevention or its punish
mept. Such ruler is the Duke. His inertness
has allowed strict statutes and most biting lave
which be confesses are nee ifal bits and curbs 70
headstrong steeds, TO sleep for fourteen years;
and bis assumption of the monks cowl is not his
first masquerade; for Lucio, who knows nothing
of his present disguise, calls him the old fantas-
teal duke of dark corners Shakspere seems TO
have had an ever present consciousness OF the e.
sential eppositon between the faculties which
lead men TO reflect and those which impel themto
act"
The following generalization of Angelo strikes
us as being in just and happy vein.
In Angelo, Shskspere has drawn faithful portrait
Of the man whose pride is IN his eminent re-pecta-
bilty-the man who finds Ii easy to lead repu!aDie
life and whose whole life Is IN his GOOD repute lie
is selfish precisien He Is content to be pure when
be has 10 great temptation 10 be otherwseJ oat ne
would seem pure at every hazard. There are men OF
10 remarkable abilities or requirements who attain
poition and influence and the Difference due 10 WIS.,
dom solely by the dlstreetne IS OF their hVes inc
crave courness of their bearing, their composed aud
collected manner and the polished precsentssoi their
speech which approaches pompOsity, but stu stops
short Of il. Such man SHAKESPEARE has shown Is IN
Angelo and in him alone. Polonius-Shaksperes
acute and hgh-bred courier not the jack sdandy OF
the stage-ls an approximation TO this type but he
has too much aectaton OF subtle thought IN MS con
yersation. The man whom Angelo represents 10
ALWAYS spoken of eminent for bis GEAR common
seuse and practical views of hfe and would never
talk as Poonius does about Hamlet and Ophea to the
King and Queen il the second scene OF the second
act OF the tragedy
But Angelo is not all hypocrte at first. His gravity,
his precseness ana bis rtspeciability are not mere
sbams He is naturally sober, formal, and susiere;
and having never encountered exactly Inc sort OF
temuation which alone could betray him into lupro-
priety he has been exceedingly proper all ms HE.
His selfish and hard-heared reputation of poor Me-
riana which afterward appears, would not impeach
his responsibility then more than ~ would now' zen
Ihey are not Wins nor is the latter born OF the
former.
The yirtuous Isabella is an object Of special
aversion to Mr.. White, xho makes out strong
case against her, sacrificing the innate tender
ness of woman TO strait-laced conviction of
duty. We should do him wrong, not to quote
portion of his eloquent protest
Among the charms with which Shakspere has en-
lowed his women Of the higher types, suoduing
tenderness of heart and innate purity OF soul are
eminent. The lovely, lova6le and LOVING creatures
seem to be devoted and self sacrlhcing rom an im
pulse of their natures 10 ste which woulo DC 10 emu
their homes of happiness They are chaste, not be-
cause they passionless or because they nave ae
Iberately weighed the propriety of two courses oil
conduct and decided for the better but because, De-
inc passionful, they are also sngle-eyed ana true
hearted and revolt iDstnctiyely from the thought OF
wapton Dissertation of their spotess natures Such
are Miranda julia, Portia, ROsalind, Viola, Perdita
Juliet Desdemopa and, above all lmogen; out sacn
ia NOT Isabella and il is in her that this play furnishes
us its second strongly marked type Of character
which, without her, would have been unrepresen'ed
on Shakspere's stage. x,
The poet has given US one marveiousiy ia''niI'
and vet ideal portrait of the woman sometimes and
Heaven be thanked, but rarely, seen, who IS com
pout ded solely Of intellect and sense OF proprlety
This woman makes piety her employment, and ehas,
tity her profession She u deiloeraieiy sancueu Au
Theoretically yrtuous She is not content with yield.
ing 10 the influences and practcing the precepts OF
religion. che must openly mortify herself before IT,
She i. not satisfied with living chastey in thought and
deed as maid or mstrsn; she must continually fortny
be,saf in a purty which hav ng reason ed herself into
che fears that che might be reasoned out Of and lay
deliberate plans TO preserve a confluence winch, IN
most cases. she need apprehend no temptation to
relax She is strongminded and often enough strong
bodied; and would have stood TIL doomsdsy pesiIe
The ruiped tower AND listened amid the lingering hight
70 the Inv which won Coerdges Genertere, and have
zone away unthrilled by impulses of soul and sense,