Preface to Shakespeare by Samuel Johnson
page 73 of 83 (87%)
page 73 of 83 (87%)
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and the virtuous miscarry, may doubtless be good, because it is a
just representation of the common events of human life: but since all reasonable beings naturally love justice, I cannot easily be persuaded, that the observation of justice makes a play worse; or, that if other excellencies are equal, the audience will not always rise better pleased from the final triumph of persecuted virtue. In the present case the publick has decided. Cordelia, from the time of Tate, has always retired with victory and felicity. And, if my sensations could add any thing to the general suffrage, I might relate, that I was many years ago so shocked by Cordelia's death, that I know not whether I ever endured to read again the last scenes of the play till I undertook to revise them as an editor. ROMEO AND JULIET ACT I. SCENE ii. (I. i. 181 foll.) Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! &c. Of these lines neither the sense nor occasion is very evident. He is not yet in love with an enemy, and to love one and hate another is no such uncommon state, as can deserve all this toil of antithesis. ACT I. SCENE iii. (I. ii. 25.) Earth-treading stars that make dark HEAVEN's light. |
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