Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-06

For the journal.
SHAKESPEARE.
BY EDMUND P. DOLE.

Each perusal discovers new truths, un-
folds new beauties. gives fresh subject for
thought. Shakspeares works are of this
character, are library in themselves.
Like the Bible, they are adapted to both
sexes, to persons of every age and cnndi-
ton. Their pages are replete with politi
cal, intellectual, and moral wisdom the
highest earthly wisdom, because it enables
one to read human character in all its
phases because it shows the mysterious
workings of various minds, from the mind
of the lunatic to that of the COOL sagacious
statesman-from the mind of the driveling
idiot to that of the mental giant; because
it displays the beauty of truth, mercy. and
love, the loathsOmeness of vice, cruelty,
and hatred: because it expands and
strengthens the mind because it eleyates
and purfies the soul.
Daniel Webster enhanced and refined
his power, developed and cultivated his
imagination, in fact. as he has said, did
much toward achieving his greatest tri-
umphs by means of an enthusiastic and
critical study of Shakespeare As, with al
most prophetic. .eloquence. he portrays the
fearful spectacle of estates discovered,
discordant, belligerent; !" of "a land rent
with civil feuds.'' or "drenched in frater-
nal blood one can almost sec the bard of
Avon rising from his grave. shaking off
the death sleep of centuries, turning the
tables upon his own countrymen and de-
nouncing with descriptive power, with
bitter nvective. with burning sarcasm,
the folly, crime, and madness, the perju-
ry, murder, and treason of England's an
cient lords and kings. As Webster paints
the glorious picture OF a ''republic known
and honored throughout the whole earth,"
one can see masters hand remodeling
an old work, clothing it with the old
draperies, ornamenting il with the mag
niiicent imagery, and investing it with the
sublime morals of Shakespeare. Abraham
refined his wit, and learned to read men
and manners, in great part, by the study
of Shakespeare. The great Hungarian ex-
lie learned to touch with foreign tongue
the sympathzing hearts of strangers by
means of a careful study of their greatest
poet-Shakspeare.
The glories of Racine and Goethe pale
and vanish before those of Shakespeare
Hazlitt says: "If TO invent according to
nature be the true definition of genius,
Shakespeare has more of this quality than
any other writer" "Never, perhaps"
says distinguished German critic, .was
there so comprehensive talent tor the de-
lineation of character as Shakspeare's
Of all poets. perhaps, he
alone has portrayed the mental diseases
melancholy. delirium. lunacy-with such
inexpressible, and, in every respect, def
mite truth, that the physician may enrich
his observations from real cases.
Who. like Shakespeare, could conceive
and describe the piteous rawlings of a half
savage, ,self-dethroned, imbecile, old king;
deprived OF all his heart loved best, driv-
en- from the homes of his own children
homes which had been his own free gift
exposed to the fury of the tempest in
company with feigned mailman and
wise fool; repenting his generous folly
and his insane harshness and, feeling in
the depths of mis- soul,
"How sharper than serpents' tooth it is
To have thankless child"
Who, like Shakespeare, could conceive
the character of Hamlet "great in its
wildnees and tragic mystery. delicate and
fierce, vindictive and cool, shrewd and
terrible, a reasonable and a reasoning
madness, more than we can solve, all that
we can feel"
Who. like Shakespeare, could describe an
Othello; great in ''all the quality. peril.
pomp, and circumstance OF glorious war;"
great in his generosity OF soul, in his
contempt of fear, in the power of his pas
sion, in the bitterness of his word. In the
depth of his despair? Who, like Shakespeare,
could portray Shylock, jew, spurned
and spit upon despised, feared, hated
| sordid and cruel. keen and subtle; wall
ing about his "ducats and his daughter :"
| loving his daughter much, money more.
| revenge most, craving the laws, the pen
atty and forfeit OF his bond" the pound
of human flesh TO bait fish withal.' "to
feel revenge" to execute the ''villainy'
taught by his oppressors Who, like
Shakespeare. could describe an Iago; a hui
man tiend. such as we sometimes meet.
destitute of every noble and generous
emotions, thousand times more heartless
and malignant than Millions Satan Who,
like Shaksp care, could describe Richard
iii, towering and lofty, equally impetuous
and commanding, naughty, violent, and
subtle, bold and treacherous; confident in
his strength as we'll as in his cunning :
raised high by his birth, and higher by his
genius and his crimes; royal usurper, a
princely hypocrite; a tyrant and mur-
dererp Who. like Shakespeare, could de-
scribe the fear, the remorse. the agony
of Macbeth, under the influence of a
bold, bad, strong minded woman, prompt
ed by ambition, urged on by seeming
fate, and slowly drifting TO sea of blood?
Who, like Shakespeare. could describe a
Regain or a Goneril, "tilled with all un-
righteousness, fornication, covetousness,
maliciousness; without natural affection.
implacable, unmerciful;' seeming to sur
pass the bounds of female wickedness
even in rude and barbarous times, and vet
out done by their sisters of the French
Revolutions and tho Shareholders Re-
bellion On the other hand, who. like
Shakespeare could exhibit the character
of Desdemona, a Cordela. or an Imo-
gene the true and noble woman, made
to love and be loved; charming, affec-
tionate, pure and confiding? And then.
what grandeur in design, what skill in
plot, what delicate shading of character.
what unity in execution; how easy, grace
ful. natural