Again in the specimen which Nick Bottom selects for the purpose of showing how well he can spout and rant : The raging rocks Shall break the locks And make and mar The foolish fates.-Mid. N. D., i. 2. Shakespeare himself occasionally uses alliteration for a special purpose of effect. As where Biron is railing at love :— This wimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy; . Liege of all loiterers and malcontents, Dread prince of plackets.-Love's L. L., iii. 1. And where Biondello is heaping up contumelious description on the steed which brings Petruchio to the wedding : Sped with spavins... stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed in the back, and shoulder-shotten; . . . two letters for her name fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.—Tam. of S., iii. 2. Also, where Mercutio is jeeringly citing some of the noted beauties of antiquity, as compared with Romeo's charmer, Rosaline : Laura to his lady was a kitchen-wench; . . . Dido, a dowdy; . . . Helen and Hero, hildings and harlots.-R. & Jul., ii. 4. Likewise, where the insolent Iago is coarsely goading Brabantio into alarm at his daughter's elopement with the Moor : : You'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. Oth., i. I. And, again, where he is rollickingly describing the powers of the English in drinking, as an incitement to Cassio to get drunk :— I learned it in England, where, indeed, they are most potent in potting.—Ibid., ii. 3. ANTITHETICAL STYLE. Shakespeare, among the many varied resources of expressive style, has availed himself of antithesis in several forms. He sometimes introduces words, antithetical to each other, in the same sentence: I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours; Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity In least speak most, to my capacity.-Mid. N. D., v. 1. The Folio prints "lest" for "least" in this passage; and many substitutions have been made for this word by various commentators. But we think that the other instances here cited by us of passages similarly constructed, serve to prove that the antithesis of "most" and "least was intended by Shakespeare in the present instance. iv. 3. Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy.-As You L., And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's More richer than my tongue--Lear, i. 1. I could have given less matter a better ear.-Ant. & C., ii. 1. The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus, All turn'd to heresy ?-Cym., iii. 4. But to win time, to lose so bad employment.-Ibid., iii. 4. Sometimes he uses an epithet that is antithetical with the noun to which it is appended. [See LOVE-EXAGGERATIONS]: This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid.—Love's L. L., iii. 1. 'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler.-Ibid., iv. Who is 't can read a woman ?-Ibid., v. 5. How now, wholesome iniquity.—Per., iv. 6. 3. And he sometimes links antithetical terms together in a sentence :Thy speaking of my tongue, and I thine, most truly falsely, must needs be granted to be much at one.-H. V., v. 2. Ignorance itself knows is so abundant scarce.-—Tr. & Cr., ii. 3. Turn all her mother's pains and benefits Sometimes he has entire passages of antithetical diction : The king's a beggar, now the play is done : All is well ended, if this suit be won, That you express content; which we will pay, Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts; Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.—All's W., v. 3. Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due by life usurp'd, Brief abstract and record of tedious days, Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth, Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood !-R. III., iv. Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main."—Lear, iii. 1. To bear such idleness so near the heart.-Ant. & C., i. 3. The borders maritime 4. Lack blood to think on 't, and flush youth revolt.—Ibid., i. 4. A greater crack: the round world Should have shook lions into civil streets, And citizens to their dens.--Ibid., v. 1. *"Main" here used for the mainland. There are several instances of Shakespeare using the words "general" and "particular" antithetically; in the same way that he uses "beast" and "man" [See BEAST AND MAN]: Although particular, shall give a scantling Of good or bad unto the general.—Tr. & Cr., i. Yet is the kindness but particular; 3. 'Twere better she were kiss'd in general.-Ibid., iv. 5. You hear what he hath said, Which was sometime his general; who lov'd him Of him that, his particular to foresee, Though in general part we were oppos'd, Yet our old love made a particular force, Take hold of me; for my particular grief Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature.-Oth., i. 3. Shakespeare has some passages where there is an effect given of an intended antithesis, but where there is no real antithesis existing : If you be not mad, be gone; if you have reason, be brief.—Tw. N., i. 5. But let him say so then, and let him go; But let him swear so, and he shall not stay.-W. T., i. 2. If I thought it were a piece of honesty to acquaint the king withal, I would not do't: I hold it the more knavery to conceal it; and therein am I constant to my profession.— Ibid., iv. 3. Then say at once if I maintained the truth; Or else was wrangling Somerset in error ?—1 H. VI., ii. 4. Speak, Prince of Ithaca; and be 't of less expect Divide thy lips than we are confident, When rank Thersites opes his mastiff jaws, We shall hear music, wit, and oracle-Tr. & Cr., i. 3. Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?— No, nor a man that fears you less than he, Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man! if thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man!— Timon, iv. 3. If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of 66 or, "Or else" is here used to express in other words." your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours; so is your diamond too; if I come off, and leave her in such honour as you have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours.-Cym., i. 5. If you can penetrate her with your fingering, so; we'll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain ; but I'll never give o'er.-Ibid., ii. 3. If you will swear you have not done 't, you lie ; And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny.-Ibid., ii. 4. In the following passage there is the real antithesis between "inn (which originally meant an abode, or dwelling; and here implies a stately dwelling) and "alehouse" (as meaning a lowly house of entertainment): while, at the same time, there is the effect of antithesis between" inn (in its more usual and exclusive acceptation) and "alehouse," as being both houses of wayside entertainment, though superior in grade the one to the other : Thou map of honour, thou King Richard's tomb, When triumph is become an alehouse guest.-R. II., v. I. APPRECIATION OF FRIENDSHIP: INTIMACY. The intensity of strength wherewith Shakespeare appreciated the sentiment of friendship, the passionate fervour with which he depicts its attachment and glorifies its object, as evidenced in various passages in his plays, serve not only to denote his own warmth of nature and might of heart, but also serve to illustrate many of the ardent expressions that abound in his sonnets,-those veiled yet glowingly demonstrative outpourings of his own affection. The diction of his time permitted much more lavish utterance of feeling, the habits of his time allowed much more marked and open token of preference, between man and man, than the diction and habits of modern times permit; and when we read the following eloquently effusive passages, we cannot but rejoice that William Shakespeare lived and wrote in an age that gave scope to unrestricted words and behaviour from one manfriend towards another. Thus passionately does he make Antonio, the noble-hearted and romantic-spirited sea-captain, express himself towards the youth for whom he has conceived a devoted personal attachment after saving him from perishing at sea :— If you will not murder me for my love, let me be your servant. But jealousy what might befall your travel, Being skilless in these parts; which to a stranger, Rough and unhospitable: my willing love, The rather by these arguments of fear, The gentleness Set forth in your pursuit. .. Hold, sir, here's my purse. ... Haply your eye shall light upon some toy You have desire to purchase; and your store, I think, is not for idle markets, sir.—Ibid., iii. 3. Is 't possible that my deserts to you Can lack persuasion? Do not tempt my misery, As to upbraid you with those kindnesses Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here And to his image, which methought did promise Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame. Are empty trunks, o'erflourish'd by the devil!-Tw. N., iii. 4. That most ingrateful boy there, by your side, Did I expose myself, pure for his love, Drew to defend him when he was beset.-Ibid., v. 1. In reference to William Shakespeare himself might aptly be quoted his own words,-" You have a noble and a true conceit of godlike amity." Thus earnestly, with the simple yet firm manliness of truth in an esteeming as well as loving attachment, does Hamlet speak to his bosom friend Horatio : Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, A man that fortune's buffets and rewards To sound what stop she please. Give me that man The terms in which men-friends addressed each other were formerly scarcely less fond and caressing than those employed between lovers :Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus. Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus, when thou haply see'st Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave.-Two G. of V., i. 1. One of his young court friends says to Bertram :— O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!-All's W., ii. 1. And Parolles says to Bertram : What is the matter, sweet-heart? ... What, what, sweet-heart?—Ibid., ii. 3. And Poins says to Prince Hal:— Now, my good sweet honey lord, ride with us.-1 H. IV., i. 2. |