TALBOYS.
They co-subsist fighting, and yet harmonising—there is half-belief—semi-illusion.
NORTH.
I claim the acknowledgment of such a state—which any one who chooses may better describe, but which shall come to that effect—for the lowest substratum of all science and criticism concerning Poesy. Will anybody grant me this, then I will reason with him about Poesy, for we begin with something in common. Will anybody deny me this, then I will not argue with him about Poesy, for we set out with nothing in common.
BULLER.
We grant you all you ask—we are all agreed—"our unanimity is wonderful."
NORTH.
Leave out the great Brother and Sister, and take the Personated alone. I know that Othello and Desdemona never existed—that an Italian Novelist began, and an English Dramatist ended them—and there they are. But do I not believe in their existence, "their loves and woes?" Yes I do believe in their existence, in their loves and woes—and I hate Iago accordingly with a vicious, unchristian, personal, active, malignant hatred.
TALBOYS.
Dr Johnson's celebrated expression, "all the belief that Poetry claims"——