For lofty sense,

Creative fancy, and inspection keen

Through the deep windings of the human heart,

Is not wild Shakspeare thine and Nature's boast?

THOMSON.

Shakspeare was the man, who, of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul. All the images of Nature were still present to him, and he drew them not laboriously, but luckily when he describes any thing, you more than see it, you feel it too. Those, who accuse him to have wanted learning, give him the greater commendation: he was naturally learned; he needed not the spectacles of books to read Nature; ne looked inwards, and found her there. DRYDEN.

ILLUSTRATIONS

TO THE

THIRD VOLUME.

1. Robin Good fellow, (Midsummer Night's Dream,) from a Painting by Reynolds. Frontispiece.

MERCHANT OF VENICE.

2. Shylock, Jessica, and Launcelot.-Smirke.

3. Bassanio, Portia, and Attendants.-Westall

4. Shylock, Salanio, Antonio, and Jailer.-Ditto.

5. Lorenzo and Jessica.-Hodges.

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

PAGE

40

65

72

103

6. A Wood. Puck.-Fuseli.

137

7. Titania, Bottom, Fairies, &c.-Ditto.

182

8. Oberon, Titania, Puck, Bottom, Fairies, &c.-Ditto.

184

LOVE'S LABOR 'S LOST.

9. Princess, Rosaline, &c.-Hamilton.

256

10. Dull, Holofernes, Sir Nathaniel, Jaquenetta, &c.—Wheatley. 11. Princess and Ladies.-Ditto

267

299