Shakspere and Montaigne by Jacob Feis
page 93 of 214 (43%)
page 93 of 214 (43%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
Let us know, Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well, When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn us, There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will. This view we have already quoted from Essay III. (12). In Florio's translation (632):--'Therefore do our dessigns so often miscarry.... The heavens are angry, and I may say envious of the extension and large privilege we ascribe to human wisdome, to the prejudice of theirs: and abridge them so more unto us, by so much more we endeavour to amplifie them.' Hamlet takes the twofold murder committed against Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as little to heart as the 'indiscreet' deed by which Polonius was killed. Then the consolation was sufficient for him that lovingkindness had forced him to be cruel. This time, his conscience is not touched, because-- 't is dangerous when the baser nature comes Between the pass and fell incensed points Of mighty opposites. With such argumentation every tyranny may be palliated, especially by those who, like Hamlet, think that-- A man's life 's no more than to say 'One.' Yet another peculiarity of Montaigne's complex being is depicted by |
|