SCENE II. The Common-wealth of Bees.

(4) So work the honey-bees:

Creatures,

land, which doth honour to the nation, and is fuperior to all the encomiums I can give it, compiled by Mr. Guthrie, to whom our author likewife is particularly obliged by his judicious and incomparable Essay on Tragedy.

(4) That Shakespear, in this place, really and defignedly imitated Virgil, and took the chief hints from him, I cannot but believe; however it would be endless to quote from Vir gil and other authors, the many passages fimilar to it: the subJect of Virgil's 4th Georgic, and the agreeable manner in which he treats it, is known to almost every one that reads: I fhall only quote a few lines from Dr. Trapp's tranflation, and refer those who defire to fee more to the original. See verse 180.

Of all the mute creation, these alone

A public weal and common int'rest know,
Imbody'd; and subsist by certain laws.
Mindful of winter, they in fummer toil;

And, for their country's good, preferve their store.
Some, by joint compact, range the fields for food,
Industrious; others in their tents at home
Narciffus clammy tears, and gum from trees,
Lay, as the first foundation of their combs;
Then into arches build the vifcid wax:
Others draw forth their colonies adult,
The nation's hope: fome work the purer fweets
And with the liquid nectar ftretch their cells:
Some (fuch their post allotted) at the gates
Stand centry and alternate watch, the rain
And clouds obferving: or unlade their friends
Returning or in troops beat off the drones
A lazy cattle: hot the work proceeds, &c.
-The aged fires

With curious architecture build their cells;
And guard their towns, and fortify their combs:
But late at night the youth fatigu'd return,

Their legs, with thyme full-laden, &c.

It is worth remarking how much Shakespear makes any thing his own, and how truly an original his judicious manner renders that which is really an imitation. Vanier, in his Prædium Rufticum, hath many pretty and new things on this fubject, in that book, where he treats of Bees.

Creatures, that by a (5) ruling nature teach
The art of order to a peopled kingdom,
They have a king and officers of fort:
Where fome, like magistrates, correct at home:
Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad:
Others, like foldiers armed in their ftings,
Make boot upon the fummer's velvet buds :
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent royal of their emperor:
Who, bufied in his majesty, furveys
The finging mafon, building roofs of gold;
The civil citizens kneading up the honey;
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate:
The fad-ey'd juftice with his furly hum,
Delivering o'er to executors pale
The lazy, yawning drone.

ACT II. SCENE II.

The Hoftefs's Account of Falstaff's Death.

He made a finer end, and went away an it had been any chriftom child, a' parted even just between twelve and one, even at the turning of the tide; for after I faw him fumble with the fheets, and play with flowers, and fmile upon his fingers ends, I knew there was but one way, for his nofe was as fharp as a pen. How now, Sir John, quoth I; what, man! be of good cheer, fo a cried out, God, God, God, three or four times; fo 1, to comfort him, bid him a fhould not think of God:. I hop'd there was no need to trouble himself with any fuch thoughts yet: fo he bad me lay more cloaths on his feet-I put my hand into the bed and felt them, and they were as cold as a ftone.

(5) Ruling, Warb. vulg. Rale in..

Warlike

Warlike Spirit.

(6) Now all the youth of England are in arms,
And filken dalliance in the wardrobe lies:
Now strive the armourers, and honour's thought
Reigns folely in the breast of every man :
They fell the pasture now to buy the horse,
Following the mirror of all chriftian kings,
With winged heels, as English Mercuries.
For now fits expectation in the air,

And hides a fword from hilts unto the point,
With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,
Promis'd to Harry and his followers..

England.

(7) O England! model to thy inward greatness, Like little body with a mighty heart,

What might'st thou do, that honour would thee da,
Were all thy children kind and natural ?

But fee, thy fault; France hath in thee found out
A neft of hollow bofoms, which he fills
With treach'rous crowns.

SCENE

(6) Now, &c.] See the beginning of Richard the Third; I know not a finer image in all Shakciptar, than that of expec tation in the fubfequent lines: Milton too has made a person of expectation in the 6th book, and ver. 306. of Paradife Loft;: but though truly fublime, he must submit very much to our daring and admirable poet.

Two broad funs, their fhields,
Blaz'd oppofite, while Expectation stood
In horror.

Mr. Warburton obferves of the paffage in the text, that "Expectation fitting in the air, defigns the height of their ambition; and the fword, hid from the hilt to the point with crowns. and coronets, that all fentiments of danger were loft in the thoughts of glory.

(7) See the last paffage in King John.

SCENE II. Falfe Appearances.

Oh! how thou haft with jealoufy infected The fweetnefs of affiance! fhew men dutiful? Why fo didst thou: or feem they grave and learned? Why fo didft thou: come they of noble family? Why fo didst thou: feem they religious? Why fo didst thou: or are they fpare in diet, Free from grofs paffion, or of mirth or anger, Conftant in fpirit, not fwerving with the blood, Garnish'd and deck'd in modeft compliment, (8) Not working with the eye without the ear, And but in purged judgment trusting neither? Such, and fo finely boulted didft thou feem. And thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot; To mark the full fraught man, the best endu'd With fome fufpicion..

King Henry's Character, by the Constable of France.

You are too much mistaken in this king:
Question your grace, the late ambafladors,
With what great ftate he heard their embassy:
How well fupply'd with noble counsellors,
How modeft in exception, and, withal,
How terrible in conftant refolution :

And
you fhall find his vanities fore-spent,
Were but the outfide of the Roman Brutus,
Covering difcretion with a coat of folly,
As gardeners do with ordure hide those roots
That fhall firft fpring and be most delicate.

ACT

(8) Not, &c.].i. e. Not trufting to either eye or ear only, but ufing both on every occafion, and trufting neither but in purged judgment, with well-weigh'd deliberation. Mr. War burton's emendation, which is adopted by Mr. Theobald, needs only be mentioned to shew it is not Shakespear's,

Not working with the car, but with the tye.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Defcription of a Fleet fetting Sail

(9) Suppofe, that you have feen
The well-appointed king at Hampton-pier
Embark his royalty; and his brave fleet
With filken streamers the young Phabus fanning
Play with your fancies; and in them behold,
Upon the hempen tackle, fhip-boys climbing;
Hear the fhrill whittle, which doth order give
To founds confus'd; behold the threaded fail,
Borne with th'invifible and creeping wind,
Draw the huge bottoms through the furrow'd fea,
Breafting the lofty surge!

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Defcription of Night in a Camp.

From camp to camp, thro' the foul womb of night, The hum of either army ftilly founds;

That the fix'd centinels almost receive
The fecret whispers of each other's watch.
Fire anfwers fire; and through their paly flames
Each battle fees the other's umber'd face.

Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs,
Piercing the night's dull ear; and from the tents,
The armourers accomplishing the knights,

With

(9) Suppofe, &c.] On this fubject we might reasonably expect Shakespear fhould stand unrivalled by the writers of every other country, as here his country juftly boafts herself unrivalled. Milton in Samson Agonistes, fays beautifully enough of Dalila, fhe

Like a ftately fhip,

Proud of her gawdy trim, comes this way failing,
With all her brav'ry on, and tackle trim.

Sails fill'd and streamers waving,

Courted by all the winds that hold them play..