New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-12
RUNAWAY'S EYES.

To ps Edih, Of The n. Y. Irfbsne
SIn: AS your columns sesm to be open not only for
ihe wordy fes of petty life but also for the discussion
of shakespearian readings, venture to send you the
following paragraphs ON
"Runswsy's Eyes"
Your ingenious correspondent, William Duf Teller,
su,pests that "runaway's" is corruption, and thst
Sbakespeare wrote "sun.dd:ed." There are two
ready objections fatal 10 this reading. The word sun
dased is modern and used only by the vcrsehugs OF to-
day. Shakespeares vigorous mind in this, Its most
passonate outburst could not have expressed itsen
IN Yves knees. Secondly 1t destroys the rhythm e thS
verse an Immediately fatal oblecton.
Your next correspondent whose signature nave
forgot makes Romeo the runaway, and defends his
reaoing sth arguments which perhaps would save H.
were The verse other tran Shakespeare or the an-
guaae other than the fiery Of passion. Shakes
6esre ia always sreat but Shakespeare, svayed By
passion, i, a sublime being, and his speech CLAIMS the
Lltiest meanings that the mind can conceive.
"GaIlop spscei you fiery footed steeds,
Toward PnGb1s' mansion; such WAGNER
As Plrton would whip you TO the Nest
And bring in cloudy Night inmedisiey; ~
Spread your close curtain. love performing Night
That Tunawsy's e,es may winki and Romeo" etc
II this means " that Romeo's eyes may wink, 1t
also that Romeo eyes may nor Wink unni Nlsh
spresds her close curtain. The father OF "Romeos
ewes" will hardly fatser this Again, rty should Ju-
bet desire that Rom,os eyes be closed Was there ever
woman vet that preferred lover with closed eyes
And Juliet the very incarnation Of alruDg passion,
shall be the fret leo Gays this gentleman to want an
eyele.s lover. Eyes that be the only tongues Of love
al the apotheoss OF passion, in Romeo, the son OF
Love must hide their swul eoquence, for juliet wills
it-by her commentators. No, Sir; Romeo and juliet
shs meet with eyes too fiery to be closed with eyes
dated "dartipg contagious fire, eyes that do hunger
for each other-soul meeting soul in love.
Il seems to me that ono OF Shakespeares happiest
conces has escaped the keen eye of his LOVERS and
almost worderfulit 1t is that some better one among
them should not long ago have discovered 1t.
Spread thy close curtain. Love-Performins Night
That Sol insH9erdets eyes-the stars
Mds shine ia ths hsdress," and Romeo
Leap these arms, uutali Of aud unseen,
is undoubtedly the ug<aa,ng Of Shakespeare. How
katural for Juliet TO speak of the departing Sun as
runaway HoS Shakespearisn the magnificent con-
cet that makes the stars but eyes OF the San; eyes
that must not shine on Romeo; eyes that should be
shut; eyes that must close wink if Night spreads
"her close curtain comes al in black; OF comes
black. .browed," as the besutliul expression is. IL
would be strange if Jalet-desirng ardeuty not so
much the night darkness; bsnisning the Sdp, aud
hating Il only for its gsrishpess calling on Night, and
loving only because its daI kness shau bring Romeo,
ard conceal from kim ne eGgerRess of her passion;
which modesy condemns, but cannot hide-it would
be strspge indeed, repeat If Juliet should forget the
assembly Of the stars whose brilliant shining would
defeat her wishes by making the Night only Stened
echo of the hated DAY. Yours, respectfully, D.
Ntr-York, Jan. 9, Nt9