upon that particular point on which the bent of each
argument turns or the force of each motive depends.
This is perfectly amazing from a man of no education or
experience in those great and public scenes of life which
are usually the subject of his thoughts; so that he seems to
have known the world by intuition, to have looked
through human nature at one glance, and to be the only
author that gives ground for a very new opinion, that
the philosopher and even the man of the world may be
born, as well as the poet.
I will conclude by saying of Shakespeare, that with all
his faults and with all the irregularity of his drama, one
may look upon his works, in comparison of those that
are more finished and regular, as upon an ancient
majestic piece of Gothic architecture, compared with a neat
modern building. The latter is more elegant and glaring,
but the former is more strong and more solemn. It must
be allowed that in one of these there are materials
enough to make many of the other. It has much the
greater variety and much the nobler apartments, though
we are often conducted to them by dark, odd, and
uncouth passages. Nor does the whole fail to strike us
with greater reverence, though many of the parts are
childish, ill-placed, and unequal to its grandeur.
First published 1725
TO MRS M.B. ON HER BIRTHDAYOh be thou blest with all that Heaven can send,
Long health, long youth, long pleasure, and a friend:
Not with those toys the female world admire,
Riches that vex, and vanities that tire.
With added years, if life bring nothing new,
But like a sieve let every blessing through,
Some joy still lost, as each vain year runs o’er,
And all we gain, some sad reflection more;
Is that a birthday? ’tis alas! too clear,
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