On the stage sat a few gentlefolk able to pay a shilling for the privilege. They smoked, played cards, insulted the pit, "who gave it to them back, and threw apples at them into the bargain." Such were the beginnings of what in Shakspeare's hands became the greatest drama that the world has ever seen.
The manner of reading all good poetry should be: R. D. C. G.
If the reader wishes to study poetry critically, he will find abundant materials in Lanier's "Science of English Verse" and Dowden's "Mind and Art of Shakspeare" (books that once read by a lover of poetry will ever after be cherished as among the choicest of his possessions); Lowell's "Fable for Critics," "My Study Windows," and "Among my Books;" Arnold's "Essays;" Hazlitt's "English Poets;" "English Men of Letters;" Poe's "Essay on the Composition of the Raven;" Taine's "English Literature;" Swinburne's "Essays and Studies;" Stedman's "Victorian Poets;" Shairp's "Studies in Poetry;" Warton's "History of English Poetry;" Ward's "History of English Dramatic Literature;" and Schlegel's "Dramatic Literature."
[20] Shakspeare is the summit of the world's literature. In a higher degree than any other man who has lived on this planet, he possessed that vivid, accurate, exhaustive imagination which creates a second universe in the poet's brain. Between our thought of a man and the man himself, or a complete representation of him with all his thoughts, feelings, motives, and possibilities, there is a vast gulf. If we had a perfect knowledge of him, we could tell what he would think and do. To this ultimate knowledge Shakspeare more nearly approached than any other mortal. He so well understood the machinery of human nature, that he could create men and women beyond our power to detect an error in his work. This grasp of the most difficult subject of thought, and the oceanic, myriad-minded greatness of his plays prove him intellectually the greatest of the human race. It is simple nonsense to suppose that Bacon wrote the dramas that bear the name of Shakspeare. They were published during Shakspeare's life under his name; and Greene, Jonson, Milton, and other contemporaries speak with unmistakable clearness of the great master. Donnelly's Cryptogram is a palpable sham; and to the argument that an uneducated man like Shakspeare could not have written such grand poetry, while Bacon, as we know, did have a splendid ability, it is a sufficient answer to remark that Shakspeare's sonnets, the authorship of which is not and cannot be questioned, show far higher poetical powers than anything that can be found in Bacon's acknowledged works. Richard Grant White's edition is the best; and certainly every one should have the very best of Shakspeare, if no other book is ever bought. (16th cent.) See Table III. No. [1].
With Shakspeare may be used Dowden's "Shakspeare Primer," and "The Mind and Art of Shakspeare," Abbott's "Shakspearian Grammar," Lanier's "Science of English Verse," Hazlitt's "Characters of Shakspeare's Plays" and "Age of Elizabeth," Lamb's "Tales from Shakspeare," Ward's "English Dramatic Literature, and History of the Drama," Lewes' "Actors and the Art of Acting," Hutton's "Plays and Players," Leigh Hunt's "Imagination and Fancy," and Whipple's "Literature of the Age of Elizabeth."
[21] Homer is the world's greatest epic poet. He is the brother of Shakspeare, full of sublimity and pathos, tenderness, simplicity, and inexhaustible vigor. Pope's translation is still the best on the whole, but should be read with Derby's Iliad and Worsley's Odyssey. In some parts these are fuller of power and beauty; in others, Pope is far better. Flaxman's designs are a great help in enjoying Homer, as are also the writings of Gladstone, Arnold, and Symonds. (Greece, about 1000 b. c.) See Table III. No. [2].
[22] Ruskin thinks Dante is the first figure of history, the only man in whom the moral, intellectual, and imaginative faculties met in great power and in perfect balance. (Italy, 14th cent.) Follow the advice given in Table III. No. [5], and, if possible, read Longfellow's translation. See note [24], p. 30.
Among writings that will be found useful in connection with Dante, are Rossetti's "Shadow of Dante," Lowell's Essay in "Among my Books," Symonds' "Introduction to the Study of Dante," Farrar's "Lecture on Dante," Mrs. Ward's "Life of Dante," Botta's "Dante as a Philosopher," and Carlyle's "Heroes and Hero Worship."