'3. THE LONDON PRODIGAL. If we are not mistaken, Lessing pronounced
this piece to be Shakespeare's, and wished to bring it on the German
stage.
'4. THE PURITAN; OR, THE WIDOW OF WATLING STREET. One of my literary
friends, intimately acquainted with Shakespeare, was of opinion that
the poet must have wished to write a play for once in the style of
Ben Jonson, and that in this way we must account for the difference
between the present piece and his usual manner. To follow out this
idea, however, would lead to a very nice critical investigation.
'5. THOMAS, LORD CROMWELL.
'6. SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE--FIRST PART.
'7. A YORKSHIRE TRAGEDY.
'The three last pieces are not only unquestionably Shakespeare's,
but in my opinion they deserve to be classed among his best and
maturest works. Steevens admits at last, in some degree, that they
are Shakespeare's, as well as the others, excepting LOCRINE, but he
speaks of all of them with great contempt, as quite worthless
productions. This condemnatory sentence is not, however, in the
slightest degree convincing, nor is it supported by critical acumen.
I should like to see how such a critic would, of his own natural
suggestion, have decided on Shakespeare's acknowledged masterpieces,
and what he would have thought of praising in them, had the public
opinion imposed on him the duty of admiration.
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