t root: this, for he could not woo," &c.

"The Loyal Subject."

It is well worthy of notice, and yet has not been, I believe, noticed
hitherto, what a marked difference there exists in the dramatic writers of
the Elizabetho-Jacobaean age--(Mercy on me! what a phrase for "the writers
during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.!")--in respect of their
political opinions. Shakespeare, in this, as in all other things, himself
and alone, gives the permanent politics of human nature, and the only
predilection which appears, shows itself in his contempt of mobs and the
populacy. Massinger is a decided Whig;--Beaumont and Fletcher high-flying,
passive-obedience, Tories. The Spanish dramatists furnished them with
this, as with many other ingredients. By the by, an accurate and familiar
acquaintance with all the productions of the Spanish stage previously to
1620, is an indispensable qualification for an editor of B. and F.;--and
with this qualification a most interesting and instructive edition might
be given. This edition of Colman's (Stockdale, 1811) is below criticism.

In metre, B. and F. are inferior to Shakespeare, on the one hand, as
expressing the poetic part of the drama, and to Massinger, on the other,
in the art of reconciling metre with the natural rhythm of
conversation,--in which, indeed, Massinger is unrivalled. Read him aright,
and measure by time, not syllables, and no lines can be more
legitimate,--none in which the substitution of equipollent feet, and the
modifications by emphasis, are managed with such exquisite judgment. B.
and F. are fond of the twelve syllable (not Alexandrine) line, as:--

"Too many fears 'tis thought too: and to nourish those."

This has often a good effect, and is one of the varieties most common in
Shakespeare.

"Rule A Wife And Have A Wife."

Act iii. Old Woman's speech:--

... "I fear he will knock my
Brains out for lying."

Mr. Seward discards the words "for lying," because "most of the things
spoke of Estifania are true, with only a little exaggeration, and because
they destroy all appearance of measure."--Colman's note.

Mr. Seward had his brains out. The humour lies in Estifania's having
ordered the Old Woman to tell these tales of her; for though an intriguer,
she is not represented as other than chaste; and as to the metre, it is
perfectly correct.

_Ib._--

"_Marg._ As you love me, give way.

_Leon._ It shall be better, I will give no