The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-01-26
Ctjc Californian.
$ II i X y p Z i !, :,


THr CoNrIiTr WoIKs OF WILLIAM SuAKs-
rE,EE. WIth No,ts . vuu!ne, >nIo boston:
Philips, Sampson * ~.
OF new books :!arp is no cad and of old
books in new editions there are countless
numbers. It is rot a paradox to sav that
son.c old books are always new They arc
like perennial fountains ever fresh ana pure
as when first they flowed from the lips of
genius centuries ago. The demand for such
must ever remain cxhaustess The master
pieces Of mind. whether in art or literature,
never grow old, and our human nature never
ceases to recognize in them the grand work
inoS Of The inner secrets of existence The
lapse Of ages. in fact. only serves to furnish
forth new illustrations OF their truth and
power. new proofs Of their universal svmpa-
+ Thy witt. nature and man. and their rt;;:ive
recognition Of all that is noble and codlik,.
amid so much that is icnohlc and d"vilis,.
.. Hence the student ot life nav derive nearly
/ the same profit In study yin- the characters Q:
Shakespeare as from STUDYING those Of the
work day people by whom he is surrounded,
and with this advantage: that there the ac.
tors are cnt in strong rc';,t' hv the bold free
strokes of a master: whereas, in life, every
thing is seen As through a ".aS> dar;}v We
m:v therefore be !'"hly ctr>urcd IT, 70 a
notice Of this rev and beautiful edition OF the
great dramatiSt we append few observations
not altogether new it may be. nor Vet Alto
ocner useless s.,,c the field is ex:au>tlcss
rs the air we breathe. or AS the hr,,t that
yadiatc> from I. thousand suns.
Shakespeare is never >im " ';ivcrt;rc and
amusing. Ills views o: life are higher. and
hence his aims are noE,lrr i~ in Etc tha,
which is, in action or feeling. mos. apparent
whether trivial or crani. is hnt the natural
vorkin. Of those rro.ounlrr Laws oi hcine
whi.h have thcir course al silent and un
seen. 50, in Sa.k-frtre. i character .!,e ,a,.
ural ouworknc of deeper and more far
rrar'ns principle than is aPi,r"r. upon
.h" surface Of life. And as in HE, III,
fact 'hat We canno' see and comprehend al
drives Us often 10 >k'pticl>m. often to a be-
lief in fatality and chance for solution of
HES en- gma seeing TO goo!n"SS in It's end
no higher l,w of jr>ticc and mercy in it.
workings, 50 is Shakespeare often closed in
doubt and oh>curfv. conrra.inr from blinded
ewes It's lamc ot li.ht AMI lie. tbs arise,
from the fac: that the ri.lt and onv key
which leads to his treasures is not cm;ovcl
1t it Ie >ou.ht for in amusement. it will no,
be found. If IT be considered simply As ~,
c'ry. it is not there II II tc tested - rcli
GiouS character. the manifest working Of re
liGious principle, it will also fail OF apl!jca
ton. Bat if the kew ,e sought in III" work
iugs Of our own nA,a. nature In the ,i-vrop
mcnt Of the great truths Of mora being. il
the Ultimate conformity Ct HE in a., lis .,!.a
scs 10 the higher laws cf moral truth az,
virtue. through the medinn, ot daily ac,ioa
and by the means Of rc;riluion and reward
according 70 tie ritura! laws Of conscience
then. indeed. is the whole book opcn bc.or,
us. written as with the point Of diamond.
We have no sympathy with verbal cri.i
clSmS or peculiar Interpretations. In read
ING him we would seek no hidden mcanin,
pirate Of neither this or th~t philosophy. no
refer to this or that creed as the one he ha'
in his mind. We would not always claim fo
him gravity or prolun'iity. or hold that L.
always appreciated him>-!f or understood
the full import Of lis ideas. 10 more. 4
Goethe SAYS, than that the beautiful won,a,
comprchends the mysteries of the b.inr O,
the offspring iila' 60: the first time nestle
in IovcIinc>S upon her bosom Bat we d
claim that he is always true to lie: that h
ever, J! Understood. teaches the oreat lesson
Of virtue and moral truth and does 81 y
the very constitution of his universal ccn;u.
true 10 the laws of Iirtue and t~u,h wI;rh
represents. In fact, it mus, be true, sine
all mental greatness is Coz! toned on theS,
and without these can have no genuine an
healthy development. IN his pages is IF
m6'dd"d with all its deep and subtle indc
enccS. Not one force. not one imrnls.
wantin! in all the whill and confusion n
dramatic action. Hence tc the eve at first
may look ike maze without a plan an
yet there is the deepest, which. when unIe,
stood, tells powerfully on the SIDE of truth
and IN no case is he ever trcachcrouS +, ~
ture and humanity. BY as much as III
r!anioid contrariety Of Influences, impulse.
and feelings, are left out, by so nuch is II,
play plain. simple, and some say natural
Hence, IN strange contrast with Shakspeare'
manner, are the plays Of the passions
rrf"e one sentiment or habit. In them. ~
becomes conspicuous, the action uniform AM
direct, the plot clear, and the ca:astror,,,
certain and inevitable. The great play an,
interplay of the thousand outward influence
that are woven around, modifying characte
and changing events, are all here sheare,
oil, till the naked design of the author !;
most apparent, the character insipid, and tn,
action tame. This is true of Joanna Railic'
plays, of Sheridans and eninently of Ford's
This is most true of the Grecian drama an,
that, compared with the highest forms of III,