New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
WHITES SHAKESPEARE.

by RICHARD GRANT WHITE Vol ]. lsmO. PIP cc1vi
and 200. The Same.
Every lover of good letters viii cordially con-
gratulate MIR. White on the completion OF his al
mirable laboss on the great English dranalst H'S
work forms contribution Of the highes' Vaiue "
She critical study of Shakespeare, WINE IL P''S'''
noble testimony TO his own exact schelarSnlp'
/ faithful research and profound kno"ieuso "i 'ne
subject. No edition of Shakespeare il more Naiua
he either for popular use for the purposes OF the
.obolo, and antiouary The reader who selects Mr..
Whit ss his guide through this fragrant Wilderness
: ~ beoutv and passion will need no other aid to the
b .,mprebension of the immortal Master beside
i his own feeling and insight. AS far as one
can depend on the headings of another he can adopt
m wiser course than 10 follow the direction OF Ills
1 ssrseious and appreciativo critic Mr.. White is
certainly not nfable; he asserts dogmatie pre-
tensions for himself; his style is sometimes open
70 eense on aesthetic grounds; his use of the yer-
: aacular is evidently tastidious, but not always
Kraceful; it is too artificial for the enchanting ease
and flow which mark the most delightful produc-
tiens in the language and though elaborate, We
venture to think is not uniformly correct, nor IN
accordance with the best models of composition;
Vat he never fails of conscientious fidelity; his com
nents which bear the stamp of sincere conviction,
are never superfuous, never prompted by desire
Cor rhetorical effect spun out either by subtle
pefnements or vague cOmmon-places; but arealways
Ept, suggestive, and vital with thought; often
acute, brilliant with new light, and revealing an
original aspect Of familiar passages Mr.. WHITE is
mbued with the spirit of Shakespeare; he loves
the divine poet with profound and imprisoned
love; yet his affection betrays tncturc of ldola-
Try; his manhood is notlost in the enthusiasm Of
worship; and his fine and rare perceptions of the
beauties of Shakespeare are invariably combined
with certain hardy masculine good sense which
clothes his critical judgments with unusual au-
thority.
The work first named AZ the head of this article is
Hnrindependcnt production. Some portions of it
have been incorporated into the volume which IN
troduees the edition of the "Works q SHAKE
speare" but its value does not depend on It's con-
nestion with that publication 1t contains
~Memoir of Shakespeare, as full and perhaps as
exhaustive as the materials extant VIII ever permit
% BIO written, an Essay toward the Expression OF
His Genius crowded with original and striking
views and an Account Of the Rise nnd Progress
sfthe English Drama" presenting in neat and
sompact historical narrative the facts on the sub
pect which have before been illustrated by eminent
English scholars.
With regard TO the question of Shakespeare
education, Mr.. White holds judicious middle
urcund He maintains that Shakespeare acquired
some knowledge of Latin aud Greek, as well as OF
n English at the Free Grammar School of stratford
n He probably was able to read the easier classical
Latin authors, if not to enjoy Virgil and Terence in
the original. OfItasn and French, he appears to
have attained something in his earliest English
years, before he became too busy man to study.
Several traces of q knowledge of Italian are scat
Hered through his plays, and or two instances
are adduced by Mr.. White, which though hitherto
passed by, seem to be conclusive of the point IL
question One of these is certainly very striking
The speech of Iago when disabling his poison into
Ahe ears of Othello,
y %s. @nt, h sSd Ra. been ,ase to thOaand'
Bat be that hches from me ny good name
Robs Of that which not enHches him
And makes me poor indeed
found with little variation in stanza Of Berni's
-Orando Innamorato," of which poem TO this
DAY there is no English translation. The reader
may judge of the resemblance by comparing the
passage from Berni in the free version given by
M. White.
The who .,eas horn, horse, ring.
And may be Justly called robberIinr;
But he who takes away reputstiou,
And prank. in feathers from ano:her's wing
his deed IL robbery, assassination.
And merits punishment much the greater
As be to nght and truth l. more traitor.
The domestic life of Shakespeare after his un-
happy marriage to Anne Hathaway, when he was
bot eighteen years old, is made the subject OF The
following opposite structures by Mr.. White:
The cottage in which Anne Hathaway lived is still
Bpintpd in ShOtprv. IL s. a timber and plaster
house, Ike John Sbakespeares, standing on bank
with roughly paved terrace in front The p1rlor Il
vainscoated high in oak and IN the principal chamber
a On enormous and heavly carved bedsteGd Though
rustic and even rude habitat on when measured by
eur stand lrd il evidently comfortable home for
GpbstAntal ysOIDaD 10 the time Of Qneen Elizabeth ana
a picturesque enough fr the cradle Of poets love
But il never DO looked upon without sadness by
lbose who rightly estimate the sorrow and The shame
which there were born 20 William Shakespeare -sOT'
row and shame which not all The varied successes OF s
aferhie could heal and OblitoGate and bis suffering
from which ind frequent expression both IN his play'
md sOnnes. True, he Of eli poets the most dra'
matte and therefore the most Seliforgeiiu bat ms
trouble be did not forget His works are fall Of pas
saRes TO write which If he bad loved bis wife and hon
cred her, would have been gall and wormwood to ms
soul; nav which, If be lad loved and hOnored her he
could moi have written. The nature Of tie subject for
bids the maTshaling OF this t4ribe array but did te
sf1.wench" whom he uses for the most Degrading oil
al comparisons do more before her tothpiigAt thhh
she woman who bore his and whom ms children
called motheri II il not question whether his jag
pent was insiifaDle but Of what be thought and ict
And even If Anne HathawaJs fair fame. II indeed II
yas ever fair, remained uDtarilshed, me iaIIhEe NJ
sIrhteep of such O man a. her boy husband proved IS
enc Of the saddest social eVoDs that can be oOntem
xlated Not because IT singular IN all ITS cncui
stances its consequences; Tor alas IN most oi tleiI
ner and whose mental gifts have made him the admired
s.vori, ~ some rural neghbOThODd captivated ere he