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THE

FIRST PART

O F

HENRY IV.

Τ
Tthe author unfolds the characters,
HE peculiar dexterity, with which

and prepares the events of this play, deferves our attention.

There is not perhaps any thing more difficult in the whole compass of the dramatic art, than to open to the fpectator the previous incidents, that were productive of the present circumftances, and the characters of the perfons from whose conduct, in fuch circumstances, the fubfequent events are to flow. An intelligent spectator will receive great pleasure from obferving every

action

action naturally arifing out of the fentiments and manners of the perfons represented. Happier is the poet, when the peculiar difpofitions of his several characters do naturally unfold the perplexities of the fable, than he who uses the liberty, which Horace allows, to call a Deity to his affiftance. This play opens by the king's declaring his intention to undertake the crufade, as foon as peace will allow him to do it. Weftmorland informs him of the defeat of Mortimer by Owen Glendower; the King relates the news of Percy's victory at Holmedon, which naturally leads him to the praise of this young hero, and to express his envy of Lord Nor¬ thumberland's happiness.

To be the father of fo bleft a fon,

While I (fays he)

See riot and difhonour ftain the brow

Of my young Harry:

then he mentions Percy's refusal of his prifoners, which Westmorland attributes to the malevolent fuggeftions of Worcester. Thus at once is prefented to the fpectator, the condition of the state, the temper of the times,

times, and the characters of the perfons from whom the catastrophe is to arise.

The stern authority the king affumes on Hotspur's difobedience to his commands, could not fail to inflame a warm young hero flushed with recent victory, and elate with the consciousness of having fo well defended a crown, which his father and uncle had in a manner conferred. Nothing can be more natural than that, in fucha temper, he should recur to the obligations the king had to his family and thus while he appears to vent his spleen, he explains to the spectator what is past, and opens the fource of the future rebellion; and by connecting former transactions with the present paffions and events, creates in the reader an interest and a fympathy, which a cold narration or a pompous declamation could not have effected. As the author defigned Percy should be an interesting character, his difobedience to the king, in regard to the prisoners, is mitigated by his pleading the unfitness of the perfon and unfavorableness of the

occafion

1

occafion to urge him on the subject. To this effeminate courtier (says he)

I

I then, all smarting with my wounds being cold,

Out of my grief and my impatience

To be fo pefter'd with a popingjoy,
Answer'd neglectingly-I know not what.

Thus has the poet artfully taken from the rebel the hateful crimes of premeditated revolt and deep-laid treachery. He is hurried by an impetuofity of foul out of the fphere of obedience, and, like a comet, though dangerous to the general system, is ftill an object of admiration and wonder to every beholder. It is marvellous, that Shakespear from bare chronicles, coarse history, and traditional tales, could thus extract the wifdom and caution of the politician Henry, and catch the fire of the martial spirit of Hotspur. The wrath of Achilles in Homer is not sustained with more dignity. Eachi hero is offended that the prize of valour, Due to many a well-fought day,

is rudely snatched from him by the hand of power.-One should fufpect an author of

more

1

more learning to have had the character of Achilles in his eye, and also the advice of Horace as to the manner of representing him on the stage.

Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer..

Jura neget fibi nata, nihil non arroget armis.

His misdemeanors rife so naturally out of his temper, and that temper is fo noble, that we are almoft as much interested for him as for a more virtuous character.

His trefpafs may be well forgot,

It hath th' excufe of youth and heat of blood,
And an adopted name of privilege,

A hare-brain'd Hotspur govern'd by a spleen. The great afpiring foul of Hotspur bears out rebellion; it seems, in him, to flow from an uncontrollable energy of foul, born to give laws, too potent to receive them. In every scene he appears with the fame animation; he is always that Percy Whofe fpirit lent a fire

Even to the dullest peasant in the camp,
Led ancient lords and rev'rend bishops on,
To bloody battles, and to bruifing arms,

4

He

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