The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-24
THIRTY
SHAKESPEARE EVENINGS.


XIX.
In the great First Folio a series OF
Histories" holds the middle place.
type familiar to the Elizabethan play
goer. deal exclusively with the reigns of
English soyerefgns. They are not indeed.
the only plays of Shakespeare based upon
historical events; in Antony and Cleo
patra'' and "Coriolanus' he follows
Plutarch even more closely than he
does Holinshed in Henry w. or Rich
ard Ill. But the Roman plays are
grouped by the editors among the
tragedies at the close of the volume, and.
whether this arrangement was the result
of conscious discrimination or not. 1t can
be defended on the highest aesthetic
grounds. For the ten English Histories
of Shakespeare form connected whole.
Each play OF the series Is dependent for
others; and the ten together constitute
the real epic of England.
In this great work Shakespeare has
twofold purpose In mind. He was. of
course. primarily playwright; his inn
mediate intention was to put together
pieces which would I'LL the theater. But
underneath this practical and temporary
aim there was in every care deeper
and more permanent motive. and 1t Is
with this that true criticism has to deal.
Now the purpose of Shakespeare's his
tories was first OF all to inspire his hearers
with love Of country. Patriotism was
virtue newborn among the Elixabethans
The loss Of the last fragment Of Eng
lands old continental possessions in the
preceding reign had thrown the country
back upon itself and the dread of for
eign Invasion proved closer bond or
union than was ever known before. The
plays and poems OF the great queens
reign are full Of exulting outbursts Of
this new spirit, but no one has given it
such eloquent voice az Shakespeare. To
him England, this land OF such dear
souls, this dear. dear land was an object
almost of alteration, another Eden.
demi- paradise" and his love OF country
betrays him at times into palpable In
Justice toward his country's enemies
This spirit of patriotism found an out
let among the Elizabethans In passion
Of loyalty to the person OF the sovereign
such AZ TO our democratic age and race
sometimes appears exaggerated and even
unreal. That spirit Of gross personal
flattery prevailed among the courtiers and
the courtly poets, especially toward the
close Of Elizabcth's reign, IL OF course
undeniable. But this false note is only
the overstraining Of . tone that rang
true In the hearts Of the people. To the
Eliza bethans the sovereign was the in
carnation Of the national idea, the living
representative OF England. Not THAT
Elisabeth. nor any MONARCH OF the Tudor
dynasty. could say with Louis XIV.
"L'etat c'est mol" Vast as were the
powers OF the sovereign, uncertain and
Ill defined as were the checks upon them.
there came a point where these powers
ceased. and the idea OF the common veal
ros,, ~, sairst tha nrHrovatIvas ~ rov.
atty. But OF such . conflict the Eliza-
bethans did, not love to think. They look
ed back with horror on the intestine wars
and the anarchy that had marked the
preceding century, and they were proud
to boast themselves the sons of the men
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