We conceive that the above citation, which is taken from the disputed Play of Titus Andronicus, is not unworthy of Shakspere, neither inappropriately follows the passages on music which we have already produced. Other passages of equal merit are to be found in this play, the feeling and sentiment of which exhibit, to no small extent, the hand of Shakspere.

THE DECEIT OF ORNAMENT.

FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.'

THE world is still deceiv'd with ornament.
In law, what plea, so tainted and corrupt,
But, being season'd with a gracious voice
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
There is no vice so simple, but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules, and frowning Mars;
Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk!
And these assume but valour's excrement,
To render them redoubted! Look on beauty,
And you shall see 'tis purchased by the weight;
Which therein works a miracle in nature,

Making them lightest that wear most of it;
So are those crisped snaky golden locks,
Which make such wanton gambols with the wind,
Upon supposed fairness, often known

To be the dowry of a second head,

The skull that bred them, in the sepulchre.
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore

To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word,

The seeming truth which cunning times put on
To entrap the wisest.

Shakspere not unfrequently illustrates the same sentiments in various portions of his works. There are lines in the above quotation which bring to our remembrance the following which are to be found in the same Comedy:

Mark you this, Bassanio,

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul, producing holy witness,

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek:
A goodly apple rotten at the heart:

O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

The same thoughts are also very forcibly expressed in the Play of Hamlet.

We are oft to blame in this,—

'Tis too much proved,—that, with devotion's visage, And pious action, we do sugar o'er

The devil himself.

King.
O, 'tis too true! how smart
A lash that speech doth give my conscience!
The harlot's cheek, beautied with plastering art,
Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it,
Than is my deed to my most painted word.

MERCY.

FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.'

THE quality of mercy is not strain'd;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temp'ral power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings:
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,-
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

The close of the following touching appeal which is to be found in the Play of Titus Andronicus, and which well agrees with the noble sentiments contained in the above quotation, will be noticed, with high satisfaction, by readers of taste and feeling. Tamora, queen of the Goths, beseeches Titus to spare her first-born son, who is about to be offered as a sacrifice to the vengeance of the Romans.

We give the speech entire.

Stay, Roman brethren!-Gracious conqueror,
Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,
A mother's tears in passion for her son;
And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,
O think my son to be as dear to me!
Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome,
To beautify thy triumphs, and return,
Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke;
But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,
For valiant doings in their country's cause?
O, if to fight for King and common-weal
Were piety in thine, it is in these.

Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood:
Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
Draw near them then in being merciful :
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge;

Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

The Comedy of Measure for Measure also furnishes us with a fine passage in that beautiful and touching appeal which Isabella makes to Lord Angelo, in

which she pleads with such wisdom and earnestness for her brother's life.

No ceremony that to great ones 'longs,

Not the King's crown, nor the deputed sword,
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace,
As mercy does.

From the same Comedy, it appears that justice, as well as mercy, has its claims. Isabella still perseveres in her suit.

Yet show some pity.

Angelo. I show it most of all when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know,

Which a dismissed offence would after gall, And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another.

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY.

O it is excellent

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.

Could great men thunder

As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,

For every pelting petty officer

Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but thunder!