MR. HICKSON (Vol. ii., p. 329.) has laid down "a canon of criticism for the
guidance of commentators in questions of this nature," so appropriate and
valuable, that I cannot except to be bound by it in these remarks; and if
in the sequel his own argument (and his friend's proposition to boot) shall
be blown up by his own petard, it will show the instability of the cause he
has espoused.
"Master the _grammatical construction_ of the passage in question (if
from a drama, in it dramatic and scenic application), deducing
therefrom the general sense, before you attempt to amend or fix the
meaning of a doubtful word."
Such is the canon; and Mr. HICKSON proceeds to observe, in language that
must meet the approval of every student of the immortal bard, that--
"Of all writers, none exceed Shakspeare in _logical correctness_ and
nicety of expression. With a vigour of though and command of language
attained by no man besides, it is fair to conclude, that _he would not
be guilty of faults of construction such as would disgrace a
schoolboy's composition_."
With this canon so ably laid down, and these remarks so apposite, MR.
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