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were, in a splendid and various mine of the richest Poetry. In such instances, the taste and feelings of her who collected them would not suffer her to separate the treasure from its casket: and they are both presented together. There are some turns of expression not strictly grammatical. These, where they have occurr'd, which is not often, have been chang'd. And, occasionally, a striking fault of diction has been remedied by the substitution of one word for another of the same general import. But this too is rare: for rare was the occasion.

In so fine a versifier as Shakespeare, Cadence was to be consulted. And it has been so in the distribution of the lines: and, in some instances, by transposition; where the omission or insertion of words made such a change requisite in the arrangement of those retain'd.

Various Modes might have been taken for classing and arranging these Aphorisms. But here their Order is determin'd by their place în the Plays to which they belong. And in the Plays themselves, no particular arrangement is consulted. The Subjects and general Heads to which they relate appear'd best reducible to an Index.

There will thus be freedom, variety, and contrast in the Collection; and Method, where method in a compilation of this kind seems to have its best place. The Edition of my Uncle, the late Edward Capell, has been employed on this occasion: but the reference being general to the Play, the passage will be found with equal ease in any other Edition.

I would remark, that the Lady who form'd, and in a great degree executed the plan of selecting these Aphorisms, observ'd in making them, that they are generally less numerous, as she notic'd was to be expected, in the very deep Tragedies; where the tumult of passion, and of incident, leaves less room for reflection: And more frequent in his Historical Plays; and in Comedies of a mixt character, with much of the serious interwoven, The Remark does honor to the Observer: and justice to the great Poet, whose attention to human Nature gave occasion to it. With respect to the deep Tragedies, Hamlet is an exception: from the peculiarly philosophic turn of that Play. Macbeth is another of the few exceptions.

Thus, then, I offer these Aphorisms to the Public. No Beauties of Shakespeare so well admit

of being detacht from the general assemblage of his Excellences, and contexture of his admirable Works, as these. They will place him, perhaps, in a clearer and stronger light than he has yet been seen, as to some very high and characteristic merits: as a most acute and profound Thinker, a most comprehensive Reasoner; a consummate Teacher of private Prudence and political Wisdom: as uniting with the most exalted Genius and poetic Enthusiasm an Heart full of Love and Veneration to the SUPREME BEING; of the relative and social Sympathies; of Justice, Magnanimity, and Benevolence, in the most extended view. They will not be like the Pedant's shewing a Brick to give an idea of a great and admirable Edifice. They will, it is true, not shew the arrangement of the Design, and the various relations, symmetry, and beauty of the structure; but much of its characteristic greatness and comprehensive utility they will manifest.

To the Aphorisms, as thus originally collected, I have added many: several of which I ought to say that she herself has markt for insertion; and some I have introduc'd which a Lady might for

various reasons have declined inserting; nonë, however, I trust, which are censurable in point of Delicacy or Morality. Indeed, I must regard Shakespeare as one of the most comprehensively and purely moral of all Writers. His expressions are not always guarded; but notwithstanding the ́intensity of his Feelings, and the quickness of his Imagination, such was the greatness of his Understanding, and the excellence of his Heart and Affections, as peculiarly qualified and determin'd him to soar above the licentious and corruptive; and to "set the Passions on the side of Truth ;”a Merit which even the severity of Dr. Johnson has not prevented his Discernment from ascribing.

I think that in reading these Aphorisms, not only the Man of Philosophy and of Piety will admire their Excellence, but the Soldier, the Statesman, the Lawyer, the Man in active Life, in its vast diversity of Relations, will feel, not without astonishment mixt with Veneration. and Affection, how home they come (I repeat the remark) to his business and bosom ; and will not wonder that Mr. Capell should have intimated this their characteristic excellence, when dedicating his Edition to the Duke of Grafton, then a Minister of

State. In that Day and since, some of the greatest of the Public Men whom we have had, Lords Chatham, Camden, Mansfield, Mr. Fox, have been well read in Shakespeare; some few of the most eminent and best of the present day have treasured him in their Memories with the same zealous Admiration. And certainly, for integrity and depth of Wisdom, and the noblest and most benign Principles of Policy, I may appeal for the proof to this little Volume; (without the necessity of examining the whole body of his Work, with that view) they could hardly find a safer or a better Adviser; and no where any whose Wisdom is of an aspect more engaging and persuasive.

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It is pleasing to the Author of this Introduction to think, that the idea of this Selection was form'd, and in a great measure carried into effect by a young Lady; "nella più fiorita & verde etate:" and her part of it completed in very few. weeks, in the midst of various domestic objects of attention..

From various causes, my part of this little. Collection has been very long in hand. And small as this Volume is, it has been long in the Press. I have added Notes which sometimes serve

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