Preface to the Works of Shakespeare (1734) | Page 4

he ought equally to
engage our Attention: Whether we respect the Force and Greatness of
his Genius, the Extent of his Knowledge and Reading, the Power and
Address with which he throws out and applies either Nature, or
Learning, there is ample Scope both for our Wonder and Pleasure. If
his Diction, and the cloathing of his Thoughts attract us, how much
more must we be charm'd with the Richness, and Variety, of his Images
and Ideas! If his Images and Ideas steal into our Souls, and strike upon
our Fancy, how much are they improv'd in Price, when we come to
reflect with what Propriety and Justness they are apply'd to Character!
If we look into his Characters, and how they are furnish'd and
proportion'd to the Employment he cuts out for them, how are we taken
up with the Mastery of his Portraits! What Draughts of Nature! What
Variety of Originals, and how differing each from the other! How are
they dress'd from the Stores of his own luxurious Imagination; without
being the Apes of Mode, or borrowing from any foreign Wardrobe!
Each of Them are the Standards of Fashion for themselves: like
Gentlemen that are above the Direction of their Tailors, and can adorn
themselves without the Aid of Imitation. If other Poets draw more than
one Fool or Coxcomb, there is the same Resemblance in them, as in
that Painter's Draughts, who was happy only at forming a Rose: you
find them all younger Brothers of the same Family, and all of them
have a Pretence to give the same Crest: But _Shakespeare_'s Clowns
and Fops come all of a different House: they are no farther allied to one
another than as Man to Man, Members of the same Species: but as
different in Features and Lineaments of Character, as we are from one
another in Face, or Complexion. But I am unawares launching into his
Character as a Writer, before I have said what I intended of him as a
private Member of the Republick.
[Sidenote: Some Particulars of his private Life.]
Mr. Rowe has very justly observ'd, that People are fond of discovering
any little personal Story of the Great Men of Antiquity: and that the
common Accidents of their Lives naturally become the Subject of our
critical Enquiries: That however trifling such a Curiosity at the first

View may appear, yet, as for what relates to Men of Letters, the
Knowledge of an Author may, perhaps, sometimes conduce to the
better understanding his Works: And, indeed, this Author's Works,
from the bad Treatment he has met with from his Editors, have so long
wanted a Comment, that one would zealously embrace every Method of
Information, that could contribute to recover them from the Injuries
with which they have so long lain o'erwhelm'd.
'Tis certain, that if we have first admir'd the Man in his Writings, his
Case is so circumstanc'd, that we must naturally admire the Writings in
the Man: That if we go back to take a View of his Education, and the
Employment in Life which Fortune had cut out for him, we shall retain
the stronger Ideas of his extensive Genius.
His Father, we are told, was a considerable Dealer in Wool; but having
no fewer than ten Children, of whom our Shakespeare was the eldest,
the best Education he could afford him was no better than to qualify
him for his own Business and Employment. I cannot affirm with any
Certainty how long his Father liv'd; but I take him to be the same Mr.
John Shakespeare who was living in the Year 1599, and who then, in
Honour of his Son, took out an Extract of his Family-Arms from the
Herald's Office; by which it appears, that he had been Officer and
Bailiff of Stratford, and that he enjoy'd some hereditary Lands and
Tenements, the Reward of his Great Grandfather's faithful and
approved Service to King Henry VII.
Be this as it will, our Shakespeare, it seems, was bred for some Time at
a Free-School; the very Free-School, I presume, founded at _Stratford_:
where, we are told, he acquired what Latin he was Master of: but, that
his Father being oblig'd, thro' Narrowness of Circumstance, to
withdraw him too soon from thence, he was so unhappily prevented
from making any Proficiency in the Dead Languages: A Point, that will
deserve some little Discussion in the Sequel of this Dissertation.
How long he continued in his Father's Way of Business, either as an
Assistant to him, or on his own proper Account, no Notices are left to
inform us: nor have I been able to learn precisely at what Period of Life
he quitted his native Stratford, and began his Acquaintance with

London, and the Stage.
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