Sonnets.
Ireland and Collier.Concordance.Other Writers.
THE GROUNDS OF HIS FAME.
From what has been said, it is manifest that as to his plots and historical reproductions, Shakspeare has little merit but taste in selection; and indeed in most cases, had he invented the stories, his merit would not have been great: what then is the true secret of his power and of his fame?
This question is not difficult to answer.
First, these are due to his wonderful insight into human nature, and the philosophy of human life: he dissects the human mind in all its conditions, and by this vivisection he displays its workings as it lives and throbs; he divines the secret impulses of all ages and characters--childhood, boyhood, manhood, girlhood, and womanhood; men of peace, and men of war; clowns, nobles, and kings.

His large heart was sympathetic with all, and even most so with the lowly and suffering; he shows us to ourselves, and enables us to use that knowledge for our profit.

All the virtues are held up to our imitation and praise, and all the vices are scourged and rendered odious in our sight.

To read Shakspeare aright is of the nature of honest self-examination, that most difficult and most necessary of duties.
CREATION OF CHARACTER .-- Second: He stands supreme in the creation of character, which may be considered the distinguishing mark of the highest literary genius.

The men and women whom he has made are not stage-puppets moved by hidden strings; they are real.