An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespear: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets; with Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire

Voorkant
A. M. Kelley, 1970 - 288 pagina's
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1810. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... UPON THE DEATH or JULIUS CiESAR; THE Tragedies of Cinna, and Julius Caesar, are each of them the representation of a conspiracy ; but it cannot be denied that our countryman has been by far more judicious in his choice of the story. An abortive scheme, in which some people of obscure fame were engaged, and even in whom, as they are represented, the enterprise was pardoned, more from contempt of their abilities and power, than the clemency of the emperor, makes a poor figure in contrast with that conspiracy, which, formed by the first characters in Rome, effected the destruction of the greatest man the world ever produced, and was succeeded by the most memorable consequences. History furnishes various examples of men of base and treacherous natures, of dissolute manners, ruined fortunes, and lost reputations, uniting in horrid association to destroy their prince. Ambition Ambition often cuts itself a bloody way to greatness.--Exasperated misery sometimes plunges its desperate dagger in the breast of the oppressor. The cabal of a court, the mutiny of a camp, the wild zeal of fanatics, have too frequently produced events of that nature. But this conspiracy was formed of very different elements. It was the genius of Rome, the rights of her constitution, the spirit of her laws, that rose against the ambition of Caesar; they steeled the heart, and whetted the dagger of the mild, the virtuous, the gentle Brutus, to give the mortal wound, not to a tyrant, who had fastened fetters on his fellow-citizens, but to the conqueror, who had made almost the whole world wear their chains; and who was then preparing to subdue the only empire that remained unsubjected to them. Can there be a subject more worthy of the Tragic Muse, than an action so important in its consequences, an....

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