children are alike interested in every character, and instructed by each. There is, nevertheless, too much of ancient cruelty in many of the events. An audience finds horror prevail over compassion, on Gloster's loss of his eyes and though Dr. Johnson has vindicated this frightful incident, by saying, "Shakspeare well knew what would please the audience for which he wrote;" yet this argument is no apology for the correctors of Shakspeare, who have altered the Drama to gratify spectators more refined, and yet have not expunged this savage and improbable act.

The nice distinction which the author has made between the real and the counterfeit madman in this tragedy, is a part of the work particularly admired by the experienced observers of that fatal disorder; and to sum up the whole worth of the production, the reader may now say of it, with some degree of qualification, what Tate said before he had employed much time and taste on the alteration: "It is a heap of jewels, unstrung and unpolished, yet so dazzling in their disorder, that I soon perceived I had seized a treasure."

It is curious and consolatory for a minor critic to observe, how the great commentators on Shakspeare differ in their opinions.

Tate alters the Play of King Lear, and instead of suffering the good Cordelia to die of grief, ás Shak speare had done, he rewards her with life, love, and a throne. Addison, in his Spectator, condemns him for this; Dr. Johnson commends him for it;

both showing excellent reasons. Then comes Steevens, who gives a better reason than all, why they are all wrong.

KING LEAR.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

An Antichamber in KING LEAR's Palace.

Enter EDMUND.

Edm. Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My services are bound: why am I then
Depriv❜d of a son's right, because I came not
In the dull road that custom has prescrib'd?
Why bastard? Wherefore base? when I can boast
A mind as gen'rous, and a shape as true
As honest madam's issue? Why are we
Held base, who, in the lusty stealth of nature
Take fiercer qualities than what compound
The scanted births of the stale marriage-bed?
Well then, legitimate Edgar, to thy right
Of law I will oppose a bastard's cunning.
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund
As to legitimate Edgar; with success

I've practis'd yet on both their easy natures.-
Here comes the old man, chaf'd with the information,
Which last I forg'd against my brother Edgar;

A tale so plausible, so boldly utter'd,

And heighten'd by such lucky accidents,

That now the slightest circumstance confirms him, And base-born Edmund, spite of law, inherits.

Enter KENT and GLOSTER.

Glost. Nay, good my Lord, your charity

O'ershoots itself, to plead in his behalf;
You are yourself a father, and may feel
The sting of disobedience from a son

First-born and best-belov'd.—O, villain Edgar!
Kent. Be not too rash; all may be forgery,
And time yet clear the duty of your son.

Glost. Plead with the seas, and reason down the winds,

Yet shalt thou ne'er convince me: I have seen
His foul designs through all a father's fondness.
Edm. It works as I cou'd wish; I'll show myself.
Glost. Ha, Edmund! welcome, boy.-O Kent !
see here

Inverted nature, Gloster's shame and glory:
This bye-born, the wild sally of my youth,
Pursues me with all filial offices;

Whilst Edgar, begg'd of Heaven, and born in honour,
Draws plagues upon my head, that urge me still
To curse in age the pleasure of my youth.
Nay, weep not, Edmund, for thy brother's crimes.
O gen'rous boy! thou shar'st but half his blood,
Yet lov'st beyond the kindness of a brother:
But I'll reward thy virtue. Follow me.

My lord, you wait the King, who comes resolv'd
To quit the toils of empire, and divide

His realms amongst his daughters. Heav'n succeed it!
But much I fear the change.

Kent. I grieve to see him.

With such wild starts of passion hourly seiz'd,

As render majesty beneath itself.

Glost. Alas! 'tis the infirmity of his age :

Yet has his temper ever been unfixt,

Chol'ric, and sudden.

Hark, they approach.

[Flourish of Trumpets.

[Exeunt GLOSTER, KENT, and EDMUND.

Enter CORDELIA and EDGAR.

Edg. Cordelia, royal fair, turn yet, once more,

And, ere successful Burgundy receive

The treasure of thy beauties from the King,
Ere happy Burgundy for ever fold thee,

Cast back one pitying look on wretched Edgar.
Cord. Alas! what wou'd the wretched Edgar with
The more unfortunate Cordelia,

Who, in obedience to a father's will,

Flies from her Edgar's arms to Burgundy's?

SCENE II.

[Exeunt

A Room of State in the Palace.

Flourish of Trumpets-Drums.

KING LEAR upon his Throne.

ALBANY, CORNWALL, BURGUNDY, KENT, GLOSTER, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, CAPTAIN of the GUARD, KNIGHTS, PAGES, GENTLEMAN with the Map, GENTLEMAN with the Crown, LORDS, LADIES, &c. &c. discovered.

Lear. Attend, my lords of Albany and Cornwall, With princely Burgundy.

Alb. We do, my liege.

Lear. Give me the map.-Know, Lords, we have
divided

In three our kingdom, having now resolv'd
To disengage from our long toil of state,
Conferring all upon your younger years.
You, Burgundy, Cornwall, and Albany,

Long in our court have made your amorous sojourn,