These are some of those wonderful bursts of feeling, done to the
life, to the very height of fancy and nature, which our Shakespeare
alone could give. We do not insist on the repetition of these last
passages as proper for the stage: we should indeed be loath to trust
them in the mouth of almost any actor: but we should wish them to be
retained in preference at least to the fantoccini exhibition of the
young princes, Edward and York, bandying childish wit with their
uncle.
HENRY VIII
This play contains little action or violence of passion, yet it has
considerable interest of a more mild and thoughtful cast, and some
of the most striking passages in the author's works. The character
of Queen Katherine is the most perfect delineation of matronly
dignity, sweetness, and resignation, that can be conceived. Her
appeals to the protection of the king, her remonstrances to the
cardinals, her conversations with her women, show a noble and
generous spirit accompanied with the utmost gentleness of nature.
What can be more affecting than her answer to Campeius and Wolsey,
who come to visit her as pretended friends.
--'Nay, forsooth, my friends,
They that must weigh out my afflictions,
They that my trust must grow to, live not here;
They are, as all my comforts are, far hence,
In mine own country, lords.
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