as for Audrey, she evidently looks upon him as a prodigy of accomplishment,—and that, in itself, is a certain holdfast upon a woman's affection.

We must not pass over unregarded that beautiful little sketch of a character in old Adam, with his heart of fourteen, and his body of fourscore years. He must have honourable mention, if it be only for the lovely homily put into his simple and confiding mouth, when he shares with his young master, Orlando, his little "all" of savings, trusting for the hereafter to Him, that "doth the ravens feed, yea, providently caters for the sparrow." And how sincerely characteristic is his honest self-commendation:

"Here is the gold;

All this I give you :-Let me be your servant;
Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty;
For in my youth I never did apply

Hot and rebellious liquors to my blood;
And did not with unbashful forehead woo
The means of weakness and debility:
Therefore my age is as a lusty winter,
Frosty, but kindly."

There is no point in which Shakespeare displays the trustingness and sweet humility of his nature more heart-homely, than when he inculcates an implicit and cheerful reliance upon that benevolent principle, which, indeed, is the only cement and bond of humanity. A similar instance to the above (and an affecting one it is) occurs towards the close of Hamlet's career:-"Thou knowest not, Horatio, how ill all is here about my heart:-'but' we defy augury. There is a special Providence, even in the fall of a sparrow."

A word has heretofore been spoken of the "cheerful philosophy" in this most exquisite play of "As You Like It;"but, indeed the whole composition is one varied homily upon the many-featured moral and social philosophy. There is Touchstone's philosophy; the Duke's philosophy; the old

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shepherd Corin's philosophy; the old serving-man Adam's philosophy, all here brought into subtle contrast. There is the Duke's-a serene wisdom of contentment, born of adversity in a placid nature:-there is the ostentatious moralising and sententious dictatorialism of Jaques,-engendered by disgust of the world, when the world's pleasures have been revelled in to satiety :-there is the simple common sense, plain sense, good sense, best sense of old Corin,-the fruit of a pure life of daily toil in the eye of Nature, and her clear, self-evident lessons :-there is the reliant philosophy of old Adam,-produced by duty, fidelity, and honest worth :and there is Touchstone's philosophy,—a choice and rich amalgam of sweet temper and untiring humour.

"As You Like It" has been denominated a "Pastoral Drama." I have no objection to the term, and have no inclination to discuss the principles of the pastoral:—in this instance, suffice to me to arrive at the conclusion, that no composition of the same class will bear comparison with it, for the combination of exquisite poetry,-both descriptive and moral, fanciful, playful, and passionate; for variety and amiability of character; for gravity, wit, and broad humour. It is altogether so perfect a piece of homage to the happy state of a rural, unartificial life, that every scene in it, untainted with bad passions, occurs amid the pomp and garniture of God's creation-the green fields and the forest glades. Well is it said by Coleridge, "In Nature there is nothing melancholy:" so also in this great composition, the only evil of man's contrivance is perpetrated under his own artificial roof: -the usurping Duke and the unnatural brother vent their evil machinations within their own walls. And, (to echo the poet Campbell's cordial remark upon the play,) "even these culpable, but at last repentant beings, we easily forgive, by reason of our hearts being so stricken with the other benevolent beings in the comedy."

III.

Hamlet.

III.

HAMLET.

HAMLET is the prince of poetical philosophers. To philosophise is the habit of his mind. To reflect and reason upon every thing and every person that comes within his sphere,to ponder upon every event that occurs,-to consider and reconsider each circumstance that arises,-is with him a part of his nature. He can no more help philosophising than he can help breathing; it is his mental atmosphere, as the air is his vital one. He philosophises upon his mother; upon his mistress; upon his friend; upon the king; upon the old courtier, Polonius; upon the water-fly, Osric; upon "the sponge," Rosencrantz; and upon the spy, Guildenstern. He even philosophises upon himself, and upon himself most of all. Yet, with all this, as the poet has managed it, there is nothing dictatorial or dogmatical in Hamlet; for Hamlet is a gentleman—a more accomplished, a more courteous gentleman than he, is not to be found in all Shakespeare, (and, I was going to say,) or anywhere else. Hamlet is not either dry or prolix. He is not didactic; for his reflections are rather for his own behoof than delivered as precepts for others. He is not sententious; for his words flow on in the shape of reverie and musing rather than in that of terse, brief phrases, uttered for