Citation and Examination of William Shakspeare | Page 3

was not SO VERY white," -
in like manner it appeared to nearly all the artists he consulted that the
sorrel mare was not SO SORREL in print.

There is another and a graver reason why the Editor was induced to
reject the contribution of his friend the engraver; and this is, a neglect
of the late improvements in his art, he having, unadvisedly or
thoughtlessly, drawn in the old-fashioned manner lines at the two sides
and at the top and bottom of his print, confining it to such limits as
paintings are confined in by their frames. Our spirited engravers, it is
well-known, disdain this thraldom, and not only give unbounded space
to their scenery, but also melt their figures in the air,--so
advantageously, that, for the most part, they approach the condition of
cherubs. This is the true aerial perspective, so little understood
heretofore. Trees, castles, rivers, volcanoes, oceans, float together in
absolute vacancy; the solid earth is represented, what we know it
actually is, buoyant as a bubble, so that no wonder if every horse is
endued with all the privileges of Pegasus, save and except our sorrel.
Malicious carpers, insensible or invidious of England's glory, deny her
in this beautiful practice the merit of invention, assigning it to the
Chinese in their tea-cups and saucers; but if not absolutely new and
ours, it must be acknowledged that we have greatly improved and
extended the invention.
Such are the reasons why the little volume here laid before the public is
defective in those decorations which the exalted state of literature
demands. Something of compensation is supplied by a Memorandum of
Ephraim Barnett, written upon the inner cover, and printed below.
The Editor, it will be perceived, is but little practised in the ways of
literature; much less is he gifted with that prophetic spirit which can
anticipate the judgment of the public. It may be that he is too idle or too
apathetic to think anxiously or much about the matter; and yet he has
been amused, in his earlier days, at watching the first appearance of
such few books as he believed to be the production of some powerful
intellect. He has seen people slowly rise up to them, like carp in a pond
when food is thrown into it; some of which carp snatch suddenly at a
morsel, and swallow it; others touch it gently with their barb, pass
deliberately by, and leave it; others wriggle and rub against it more
disdainfully; others, in sober truth, know not what to make of it, swim
round and round it, eye it on the sunny side, eye it on the shady,
approach it, question it, shoulder it, flap it with the tail, turn it over,
look askance at it, take a pea-shell or a worm instead of it, and plunge

again their heads into the comfortable mud. After some seasons the
same food will suit their stomachs better.

EXAMINATION, ETC., ETC.

About one hour before noontide the youth WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE,
accused of deer-stealing, and apprehended for that offence, was brought
into the great hall at Charlecote, where, having made his obeisance, it
was most graciously permitted him to stand.
The worshipful Sir Thomas Lucy, Knight, seeing him right opposite, on
the farther side of the long table, and fearing no disadvantage, did
frown upon him with great dignity; then, deigning ne'er a word to the
culprit, turned he his face toward his chaplain, Sir Silas Gough, who
stood beside him, and said unto him most courteously, and unlike unto
one who in his own right commandeth, -
"Stand out of the way! What are those two varlets bringing into the
room?"
"The table, sir," replied Master Silas, "upon the which the consumption
of the venison was perpetrated."
The youth, William Shakspeare, did thereupon pray and beseech his
lordship most fervently, in this guise:-
"Oh, sir! do not let him turn the tables against me, who am only a
simple stripling, and he an old codger."
But Master Silas did bite his nether lip, and did cry aloud, -
"Look upon those deadly spots!"
And his worship did look thereupon most staidly, and did say in the ear
of Master Silas, but in such wise that it reached even unto mine,
"Good honest chandlery, methinks!"
"God grant it may turn out so!" ejaculated Master Silas.
The youth, hearing these words, said unto him, -
"I fear, Master Silas, gentry like you often pray God to grant what HE
would rather not; and now and then what YOU would rather not."
Sir Silas was wroth at this rudeness of speech about God in the face of
a preacher, and said, reprovingly, -
"Out upon thy foul mouth, knave! upon which lie slaughter and
venison."
Whereupon did William Shakspeare sit