New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
VARIED COMMENT ON SHAKESPEARE


EssAYs AND NOTES ON SHAKESPEARE BY
John W. Hales, NJ. A. New edition. Up. viii,
800. George Bell Sons.
This volume gives the impression OF scrap
book But it is a good scrapboOk. Essays like
that on a journey in old times " From Stratford
to London" or Round about Stratford in 1903 :;
on Greek names used by Shakespeare: on Some
Conditions of the Elizabcthan Drama on Mil
toms Familiarity with Shakespeare Works on
the influence of Shakespeare upon his contem-
p0raries as illustrated in the play OF willy BE-
gniledn; on the allusiOn In with good capon
lined" to the reprehensibe custom which Justices
had of levying tribute upon those within tAelr
jurisdiction; the meaning OF phrases ike
Caesar doth hear me hard an aery OF children.
little eyases," the coal Of fire upon the ice.
" the washing Of ten tides" or " assume virtue
il you have it not" are marked with learning
and critical insight. Facts brought together
that no one except lifelong student OF Snakes
peare would think Of 1; and clear light is cast upon
questions that separately seem OF httle moment.
but in the sum are of importance to the reader of
the poet. The paper on king Lear Is in part
q suggestive discussion of the Celtic heathenism
which underlies the play. Another paper defends
the cenuineness Of the Porters soliloquy in
Macbeth" The effort TO prove acquaintance on
the part of Shakespeare with the poems OF Chaucer
is marked rather by deXterty than conclusive
reasoning. Most Of the parallels might just as
well be explained some other way. The best one
can say is that no reason exists for denying even
to man of much narrower reading than Shakes
peare knowledge more less intimate of poet
whose right to the highest place in English IT.
erature was not to he disputed by any save the
dramatist himself But men of genius do not al
WAYS find the works of other men of genius useful
to them The crude expressions of inferior minds
often enough contain material better suited to
their purpose.
II is rather sentimental than critical to COM
par Chaucer and Shakespeare on the point that
neither betrays the effort his work cost him. This
is a detail in the apotheosis of genius which does
not bear close inspection. Both writer's worked
with an activity which it is impossible to measure,
and we know that they worked. To say that we
cannot perceive what we know to be a fact Is
formula of criticism. common enough perhaps,
which ought TO be extinct. But saving this leads
Mr.. Hales on TO a remark which is unjust. " lbs
works he saws of Ben Jonson. exhibit too plainly
the travail and effort with which they were COM
posed One seems to be taken into his Workshop
and see him toilng and grooming. and. in the very
act of elaboration, shaping now this limb ana no"
that OF course things of this sort have been
said about Jonson before. 1t is fair to suspect.
however. that if he had not chosen to air bis
abundant learning in notes and explanations MS
verse would have seemed as rich ana smoo'h anu
flowing as it really is. If he had left to future
times the work of devng in dust heaps OF cru
dition. perhaps he would have won praise where
he has incurred blame