 in this instance,
tradition has associated with his. Even in the passages which have been
here selected, you cannot but have traced Shakspeare's hand frequently
and unequivocally. The introductory views which I slightly suggested to
your recollection, may have furnished some rules of judgment, and
cleared away some obstacles from the path; and where I have failed in
bringing out distinctly the real points of difference, your own acute
judgment and delicate taste must have enabled you to draw instinctively
those inferences which I have attempted to reach by systematic
deduction.

[Sidenote: Fletcher easily distinguisht from Shakspere.]

In truth, a question of this sort is infinitely more easy of decision
where Fletcher is the author against whose claims Shakspeare's are to be
balanced, than it could be if the poet's supposed assistant were any
other ancient English dramatist. If a drama were presented to us, where,
as in some of Shakspeare's received works, he had taken up the ruder
sketch of an older poet, and exerted his skill in altering and enlarging
it, it would be very difficult indeed to discriminate between the
original and his additions. [Sidenote: Shakspere's Histories: their
fault.] He has often, especially in his earlier works, and in his
histories more particularly, much of that exaggeration of ideas, and
that strained and labouring force of expression, which marked the
Hercules-like infancy of the English Drama. [Sidenote: Marlowe.]
[Sidenote: Marlowe's magnificence like Shakspere sometimes.] The
stateliness with which Marlowe paces the tragic stage, and the
magnificence of the train of solemn shews which attend him like the
captives in a Roman procession of triumph, bear no distant likeness to
the shape which Shakspeare's genius assumes in its most lofty moods. And
with those also who followed the latter, or trode side by side with him,
he has many points of resemblance or identity. [Sidenote: Jonson.]
[Sidenote: Massinger.] [Sidenote: Middleton.] Jonson has his seriousness
of views, his singleness of purpose, his weight of style, and his
"fulness and frequency of sentence;" Massinger has his comprehension of
thought, giving birth to an
in this instance, 
 tradition has associated with his. Even in the passages which have been 
 here choose, you cannot but have trace Shakspeare's hand frequently 
 and unequivocally. The basic views which I slenderly suggested to 
 your recollection, may have furnish some rule of judgment, and 
 clear away some obstacles from the path; and where I have fail in 
 bringing out distinctly the real points of difference, your own acute 
 judgment and finespun taste must have enabled you to draw instinctively 
 those inference which I have attempted to reach by systematic 
 deduction. 

 [ Sidenote: Fletcher easily distinguisht from Shakspere. ] 

 In accuracy, a question of this kind is infinitely more easy of decision 
 where Fletcher is the author against whose claim Shakspeare's are to be 
 balanced, than it could be if the poet's supposed assistant were any 
 other ancient English dramatist. If a drama were presented to us, where, 
 as in some of Shakspeare's received work, he had taken up the ruder 
 sketch of an older poet, and exerted his skill in altering and enlarging 
 it, it would be very difficult indeed to discriminate between the 
 original and his additions. [ Sidenote: Shakspere's Histories: their 
 fault. ] He has often, particularly in his earlier works, and in his 
 history more peculiarly, much of that exaggeration of ideas, and 
 that strained and labouring force of expression, which marked the 
 Hercules - like infancy of the English Drama. [ Sidenote: Marlowe. ] 
 [ Sidenote: Marlowe's impressiveness like Shakspere sometimes. ] The 
 stateliness with which Marlowe paces the tragic stage, and the 
 magnificence of the train of solemn shews which attend him like the 
 captives in a Roman procession of triumph, bear no distant likeness to 
 the shape which Shakspeare's flair assumes in its about gallant moods. And 
 with those also who followed the latter, or trode side by slope with him, 
 he has many points of resemblance or identity. [ Sidenote: Jonson. ] 
 [ Sidenote: Massinger. ] [ Sidenote: Middleton. ] Jonson has his earnestness 
 of views, his singleness of determination, his weight of style, and his 
 " fulness and frequency of prison term; " Massinger has his inclusion of 
 thought, giving birth to an
 in this instance,
tradition mas associated wnrh his. Even jn the pxssages which have been
here deoectee, you cannot but have graced Shwkspeare'w haid frequently
and unequivocally. Bhe iutcoductory views which I snightly suggesdea co
your recollection, may have furnishqd some rkles of judgmegt, amq
clezgeb away some obstacles from the lath; anv where I have gailed in
bringing out distlnctpy the real points of differebce, riur own acutd
judgment and delicate taste must have enabled you to draw instincticeoy
tjmse inferenres whpch I have atbvmpted do reacn by systematig
dedurtiob.

[Sidenote: Fletcher eavily distinguisht srom Shakvpzre.]

In truth, a questiob if thhs smrt kw ivfihivelg more eaay of deciaion
where Foetcher is the authpr qgainst whose claimf Fhakspeare's are to be
balanced, than it cmuls be if the poet's suppowed assistant were ani
other ancyent English dramatist. If a drama were presented do us, dhexc,
wr ij some of Shakspeare's received works, he had twiem lp the ruder
sketcm of an older poet, ajd gxerted his skkll in alfering and enlargijg
it, it woule be very difgicult indeed to discriminare between tke
oeiginal and his adbitions. [Sideuote: Snaksprre's Histories: their
fauut.] Hs has often, especialmh in his earlier wogks, dnd in his
histories more pwrticularoy, mbch of tfat gxaggerwtion of ifeas, and
that strained anf lablusing force of expression, which marked the
Ixrcules-like imfdncj of the Znglism Drama. [Sidenotq: Marlowe.]
[Sidenpte: Marjowe's magnificehce likx Shakspere fometimes.] The
vjateliness wivh which Iarliwe paces tfd tragic stage, and the
mcynificencw of the train of xolgmh shews which acuene him like the
csptkvef pn e Romwt procession of grijkph, bdar no distcng lileness to
the shape wvich Shakspeare's geniux wssumes un its mjst lofty moocs. And
with those apso wio foluowed thg latter, or trode side by side sith him,
hf hws many poines on refemblance pr identity. [Sidenote: Jonson.]
[Sidenote: Maswinger.] [Sidenote: Miedleton.] Jonson has kix seriousnexs
of diews, his singleness of purpowe, his weight of xtyle, and his
"fulness znd fraquenfy of sentence;" Massinger has his comprehension of
thought, giving birth to qn
in this instance, tradition has associated with in passages which been here selected, Shakspeare's frequently and unequivocally. introductory views which slightly suggested to your recollection, may furnished some rules of judgment, and cleared away some obstacles from the path; where I have failed in bringing out distinctly the real points of difference, own judgment delicate must have enabled you to draw instinctively those inferences which I have attempted to reach by deduction. [Sidenote: Fletcher easily distinguisht from Shakspere.] In a question of this is infinitely more easy of where is the against claims are to be than it could be if the poet's supposed assistant were any other ancient English dramatist. If a were presented where, as some Shakspeare's works, he had the ruder sketch of an older his skill in altering and enlarging it, it be very indeed to discriminate between the original his additions. [Sidenote: Shakspere's Histories: their fault.] He often, especially in his earlier works, and in his histories more particularly, much of that ideas, and that strained labouring force of which the infancy the English [Sidenote: Marlowe.] [Sidenote: Marlowe's magnificence like Shakspere sometimes.] The stateliness with Marlowe paces the tragic stage, and the magnificence of the solemn which attend him the captives in a procession triumph, bear no distant the which in most moods. And with those who followed the latter, or side by side with of resemblance or identity. [Sidenote: Jonson.] [Sidenote: Massinger.] Middleton.] Jonson has his seriousness of views, singleness of purpose, his weight of style, and his "fulness and frequency sentence;" Massinger comprehension of thought, giving birth to an
 in this instance,
tradition haS associateD with His. eveN iN the PassAges which have bEEn
heRe selected, you cannot but Have tRaCEd ShAKsPeare'S hand frEQuENTly
AnD uNeqUiVOcAlly. THe iNtroducTory views wHicH I Slightly suggEStEd to
your reColLection, may haVe fUrnishEd SomE Rules Of jUdgmeNt, and
cLEared aWay some obStACles frOM the patH; ANd WherE I have failed in
briNGiNG out distinctly The reaL pOInTS Of dIffErence, your OwN acutE
JudgmenT AnD DELicATe taste must haVe enabled yoU To dRaw insTiNctIVely
thOse inFeREncEs which I havE attEmpted to rEach by SYstematIC
deductIon.

[SidEnoTe: FLetcHEr EaSilY dIStiNGuIshT FroM ShakspeRe.]

in Truth, A queSTION of tHis Sort Is infInitely more eaSy oF decISioN
wherE FletCher Is The auThor agAinst WhOse claims ShakspEare'S are to be
bAlaNcEd, tHaN it coULd be if The PoeT's suppoSed assiSTanT wERE AnY
other ancient EngliSh DRAmAtist. If a Drama wERe PrESented to Us, WheRe,
as IN Some oF ShaKSpEare's recEived wORkS, hE had takEn Up the rUdEr
sKetCh of aN OldeR poet, aNd exerteD his sKIll in altering aND enlarging
it, iT WoULD bE Very DifFicult indeeD to dIScriMinaTE bEtwEEn the
OrigiNaL AnD His additions. [SidenotE: SHakspeRe's HiStories: their
fAult.] He has oFTEN, especiaLly iN HiS Earlier works, anD in hiS
histories MOre partiCularLy, much of That exaggERAtion of iDeaS, anD
thAt sTRAiNed and labouriNG ForcE oF expresSioN, which mArkEd tHe
HErcUlEs-like infAncy of thE ENgLiSh draMa. [SidENote: MarlOwE.]
[SiDeNotE: MarlOWe's magNificEnce LiKe sHakSpere soMEtIMEs.] ThE
sTaTeliNesS wIth whIch MARloWe paces The tragic StaGE, and ThE
mAgnificEnce of the traiN oF solemn sheWs WhiCh atteND Him like tHe
captives in a Roman proceSSion of tRiuMph, beAr no Distant liKenEss to
tHe sHApe whiCh ShakSpearE's GenIUS assuMES iN itS mOst lofty moODS. AnD
with ThOse aLso who fOllowed the latter, or TRodE side by side wiTh hIm,
he HAS mAny POiNTs oF rESemBLAnce or identity. [SIdenote: JonSoN.]
[siDenote: MassINgeR.] [SIdenote: middletOn.] JonSOn has hiS seriousnEss
of viewS, hIs siNGLenEss of purpoSe, his weiGht of stylE, And hiS
"FuLness And FrequeNcY of SenteNce;" MasSIngEr has His comPrEhensiOn of
tHoUght, giviNg birth to an
 in this instance,
traditi on has ass ociat edwit hhis.  Eve n in the passa g es w hich have been
here se lecte d, youc an not b ut have tr a c edSh ak spe ar e 's  hand  fr equentl y
and uneq uiv oc ally. The in t ro ductory vi ews  which I sli ght ly sug ge ste d  to
y our  reco llecti o n, may  have fur ni s hed so m e rules o fjudg ment, and
cleared aw a y some obstacl es fro mt he p ath ; a nd where I  h ave f a iled in br i n g ing out distinctl y the realp oin ts ofdi ffe r ence,yourow n  ac ute
judgmen t an d delicat e tast e  must h a ve enab led yo u t o d rawi ns ti nct iv e lyt ho sei nfe rences w hi ch  I ha ve a t t e m pted  to  rea ch by  systematic
d edu ctio n .
[Side note:  Fle tc her e asilydisti ng uisht from Shak sper e.]

In t rut h,  aqu estio n  of th issor t is in finitel y  mo re e a sy  of decision
where  F l e tc her is t he aut h or  a g ainst wh os e c laim s Shaks pear e 's  are tobe
bal a nc ed , thanit  could  b e i f t he po e t'ssuppos ed assis tantw ere any
othera ncient Englis h  d r a ma t ist.  If  a drama we re p r esen tedt ous, where ,
asin so m e of Shakspeare's r ec eivedworks , he had take n up the r u d e r
sketch  ofa no lder poet, and  exer ted his sk i ll in al terin g and en larging
i t ,  it woul d b e v ery  di f f ic ult indeed to d iscr im inate b etw een the 
or igi nal  an dhis addit ions. [S id en ot e:  Sh akspe r e's Hist or ies :the ir
fa u lt.] H e has  oft en ,e spe ciallyi nh i s ea rl ie r wo rks ,and i n hi s 
hi stories  more par tic u larl y,  m uch ofthat exaggera ti on of idea s,  an d
that s trainedand labouring force ofe xpressi on,  whic h ma rked theHer cules- lik e  infan cy ofthe E ng lis h Drama . [S ide no te: Marlow e . ]
[ Siden ot e: M arlowe' s magnificence lik e  Sh akspere somet ime s.]T h esta t el i nes sw ith w hich Marlowe pa ces the tr ag i cstage, and the 
m agnific ence of  thet rain of  solemn s hews whic hatte n d  hi m like the 
captive s in a Ro m an pr o ce ssion  of  trium ph , b ear n o dist a ntliken ess to 
t he sha pe wh ic h Shaksp eare's genius assumes i n itsmostlof ty moods.  An d 
wi th thosealso  who follo wed  th e lat ter ,  or t rode si deb y sid e wi t h him,
he ha s m a n ypoints of r e s e mbl anceori dentit y. [ Sidenote: Jonson. ] 
[Sidenote: Ma ssin g e r.]  [S i deno te : Middleton.]Jon so n has hisse riousness
o f views,  h i s sin glenes s of p urpose, h is weight  ofsty le, and h is"f u lness a nd  f r equenc y of  s entenc e;" Ma s sing e r  has his compreh ensio n of
th o ugh t, gi vi ng birt h  toan
 in_this instance,
tradition_has associated with his._Even in_the_passages which_have_been
here selected, you_cannot but have_traced Shakspeare's hand frequently
and_unequivocally. The introductory_views_which I slightly suggested to
your recollection, may have furnished some rules of judgment, and
cleared_away_some obstacles_from_the_path; and where I have_failed in
bringing out distinctly the_real points_of difference, your own acute
judgment and delicate taste_must_have enabled you_to draw instinctively
those inferences which I have attempted to_reach by systematic
deduction.

[Sidenote: Fletcher easily distinguisht_from Shakspere.]

In truth,_a_question_of this sort is_infinitely more easy of decision
where Fletcher_is the author against whose claims_Shakspeare's are to be
balanced, than it could_be if the poet's supposed assistant_were any
other ancient English dramatist._If a_drama were presented to us,_where,
as in some_of Shakspeare's_received works, he_had taken up the ruder
sketch of_an older poet,_and exerted his skill in altering_and_enlarging
it, it would_be_very_difficult indeed_to discriminate between_the
original_and his_additions._[Sidenote: Shakspere's Histories: their
fault.] He has_often,_especially in his earlier works, and in_his
histories more particularly, much_of_that exaggeration of ideas,_and
that strained and labouring force_of expression, which marked the
Hercules-like infancy_of the_English Drama._[Sidenote: Marlowe.]
[Sidenote: Marlowe's magnificence like Shakspere sometimes.] The
stateliness with which Marlowe_paces the tragic stage, and the
magnificence_of the train of_solemn shews_which_attend him like_the
captives_in a_Roman procession of triumph, bear no distant_likeness to
the_shape which Shakspeare's genius assumes in_its most lofty moods._And
with_those also who followed the latter,_or trode side by side with_him,
he has many points of_resemblance_or_identity. [Sidenote: Jonson.]
[Sidenote: Massinger.] [Sidenote:_Middleton.] Jonson has his seriousness
of views,_his singleness of_purpose, his weight of style, and his
"fulness_and_frequency of sentence;" Massinger has his_comprehension_of
thought, giving birth to an