AN

ESSAY

ON THE

WRITINGS AND GENIUS

O F

SHAKESPEAR,

COMPARED WITH THE

GREEK AND FRENCH DRAMATIC POETS.

WITH

SOME REMARKS

Upon the MISREPRESENTATIONS of

Monf. de VOLTAIRE.

LONDON:

Printed for J. DODSLEY, Pall-mall; Meff. BAKER and
LEIGH, York-ftreet, Covent-garden; J. WALTER,
Charing-crofs; T. CADELL, in the Strand; and
J. WILKIE, N° 71. St. Paul's Church-yard.

M.DCC.LXIX.

The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Upon the Cinna of Corneille.

Upon the Death of Julius Cæfar.

P. 173.

P. 207.

P. 245

ERRAT A.

51. Dele On the Drama.

17. For Odyfly, read Odyffey.

18. For Phorbus, read Phorbas.

19. For Lufitcanians, read Lufitanians.

12. Or a valiant, dele or.

14. For Promotheus, read Prometheus.

1858.

INTRODUCTIO N.

MR.

R. Pope, in the preface to his edition of Shakespear, fets out by declaring, that, of all English poets, this tragedian offers the fulleft and faireft fubject for criticism. Animated by an opinion of fuch authority, some of the most learned and ingenious of our critics have made correct editions of his works, and enriched them with notes. The fuperiority of talents and learning, which I acknowledge in these editors, leaves me no room to entertain the vain prefumption of attempting to correct any paffages of this celebrated author ; but the whole, as corrected and elucidated by them, lies open to a thorough enquiry into the genius of our great English claffic. Unprejudiced and candid judgment will be the fureft basis of