The Portland daily press., 1888-02-25

not portrait of the author; and he pro-
poses that this transcript of the era be stud
led standing upright on once feet; with the
finer glasses that moderns grind, and with
the electric light rather than the lantern and
the tallow dip which, in every other field OF
human research, have been finally relieved
from duty" And yet. after all. lis human
nature, the personal equation" as Mr.. Nor
gan calls it, which will always chiefly in
terest the student Of Shakespeare. Especial
ly wholesome, and comforting to those minds
unable to see systems of theology and mystic
raptures and all the camels and weasels and
whales that are behed by the elect of es-
thetic criticism upon the sCnnets of Shaks-
peare. is Mr.. Morgan's theory that they were
stray fragments, possibly not Shakspeare's
at all. but published under favor of his name.
according to the traditions of copyright
even more loose than those of our own time.
Certainly none but wilfully blind enthusi-
asst could Claim that the sonnets are equal,
that they do not range from extreme beauty
OF phrase to dryest commonplace. However,
no wood is too dead but peg may be carved
of 1t to hang theory orr an allegory there
upon. Mr.. Morgan considers the technical
references to medicine and law which are
found in the Plays, and his comments upon
the case of Shylock are very original and
witty The substance of this celebrated cause
he finds closely paralleled in lawsuit of the
times of Shakespeare (Hales VS.. Petit; Plow-
den's Reports. Blu. his view of Portia is
extremely comic and ingenious, it must be
said, leaving it to legal intellgences to judge
how far Mr.. Morgan's witty argument may
be considered valid. He sums up the whole
course of proceedings in document sup
posed to be Shylock's Appeal before the
High Court of Appeal of United Italy, where
in at this late day Judge Bonfati reports
more favorably to the jew. Portia is madet to
appear the very type of the Illogical,
emotional and officous little woman, who in
our day claims that man shall accord her a
vote and also his own seat in the horsecar.
Were the erudite danes of the University Of
Bologna, that taught classes in Canon Law,
Maddalena Buonsignori and Btisia Coz
zadini, and NoYella Andrea with veil over
her too beautiful face, as happy in the
schools as at home? But this is to digress,
while Bonfati, G. ]. pronounces new judg-
ment and withers up Portia, who even
to non-legal observer, might seem
to have constituted herself lawyer, jury
and judge, and only to be prevented
by some caprice of her own from
acting as headsman to the unlucky Jew.
Mr.. Morgans essay is so immensely clever,
SO neatly fitted to its purpose which is to
prove that on the testimony of the Plays
alone. it is not possible to decide that Shak-
speare had any special knowledge of law I;
that it is not easy to know how much allow
ance must be made for the adherence to the
old Italian story upon which the Merchant
of Venice was founded. A certain denoue-
ment of the drama was to be reached, and by
means which should be effective and hold
the attention of the audience. Portia and
her rulings have been accepted by critics up
to the present time, with the exception of a
few essayists who, for sake of paradox, have
wished to plead in defense of Sbylock. A
theatre audience is not critical of technical
points. Hamlet's father may die of poison
poured into the ear, and Portia assume what
authority she please, and the house will not
object. And when the womanly advocate
defines the quality of Mercy, her sins against
realism are forgotten and forgiven. 1t is,
moreover, no use to quarrel with Shakespeare
in behalf of facts. So much the worse for
the facts if they are ON the track of his en-
CINE. Mr.. Morgan is also well worth hear
ing as concerns Lord Hamlet; he considers
most ably. from the view of practical theatre
business the growth of Shakspearian play
discusses Queen Elizabeth's order for a COM
edy in which Falstaff should appear as a
lover; notes the result of researches as to
any descendants of Shakespeare, living in
America; and explodes some very effective
bombs against the Donnelly and Prior
ciphers and Mr.. Furnivaps verse test.
Original learned, witty and courteous of
manner, this volume of Shakspearian com.
ment deserves attention and popularity
New York: William Eyarts Benjamin
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony