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Troilus. But something may be done, which we will not:

And sometimes we are devils to ourselves,

When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,

Presuming on their changeful potency.

Troilus and Cressida. Act iv. Scene 4.

SOME SELF-RESPECT ALLOWABLE.

Dauphin. Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin,

As self-neglecting.

King Henry V. Act ii. Scene 4.

Earl of Gloster, (blind.) I have no way, and therefore

want no eyes;

I stumbled when I saw; full oft 'tis seen,

Our mean secures us;* and our mere defects
Prove our commodities.

King Lear. Act iv. Scene 1.

In other parts In all the com

*That is, "our abilities and powers make us rash and unwary." of Shakspere's works our Author uses "secure" in the same sense. ments I have seen on this passage, the critics appear to have floundered in errors of all sorts, in their endeavours to make out its meaning.

SELF-DECEPTION.

Prospero.

. Like one,

Who having, unto truth, by telling of it,*
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie, &c.

Banquo.

Tempest. Acti. Scene 2.

Oftentimes, to win us to our harm,

The instruments of darkness tell us truths;
Win us with honest trifles, to betray us

In deepest consequence.

Macbeth. Act i. Scene 3.

"It" here relates to the word "lie," at the end of the sentence, by telling of which he made his memory a sinner unto truth. Shakspere looked deep into the habits of the mind when he wrote this passage.

SEVERITY IN LAWS IMPOLITIC.

Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,

That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's sight
For terror, not for use: in time the rod
Becomes more mock'd than feared; so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;

The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart

Goes all decorum.

Measure for Measure. Act i. Scene 4.

Angelo. We must not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,

And let it keep one shape, till custom make it

Their perch, and not their terror.

Ibid. Act ii. Scene 1.

THE civilized world is at last beginning to see the impolicy of the Draconian system, and the Christian world its

* Affright.

wickedness. Since our Poet lived, much has been done to soften the severity of penal codes, but much still remains. Indeed, the systems of penal law have hitherto generally involved an essentially false principle in their construction—the right of vindictive punishment. Now the objects of penal laws are these: Firstly, the prevention of the origin and commission of crime: Secondly, the prevention of its repetition: and thirdly, the safe custody and reformation of the offender. One step farther, in the shape of vengeance, is folly and wickedness. All further punishment of the criminal should be left to a Tribunal, not of this world.

The subject of the entire reformation of criminal law is now occupying the attention of many of our philanthropists. They can scarcely have a more noble mission than its accomplishment,

SILENCE.

Claudio. Silence is the perfectest herald of joy; I were but little happy, if I could say how much.

Much ado about Nothing. Act ii. Scene 1.

Paulina. The silence often of pure innocence Persuades, when speaking fails.

Winter's Tale. Act ii. Scene 2.

Paulina. I like your silence, it the more shows off

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Whispers the o'erfraught heart, and bids it break.

Macbeth. Act iv. Scene 3.

SIN.

SOMETIMES DECEPTIVE IN EXTERNALS.

Isabella. Oh, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,

The damned'st body to invest and cover

In princely guards.*

Measure for Measure. Act iii. Scene 1.

Duchess. Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice!

King Richard III. Act ii. Scene 2.

* This word in our Author's time was sometimes used to signify "trappings," and other such ornaments.

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