nations in general, the AEgyptians, Venetians, French, &c. are drawn with equal propriety.  Whatever object of nature, or branch of science, he either speaks or describes, it is always with competent, if not extensive, knowledge.  His descriptions are still exact, and his metaphors appropriated, and remarkably drawn from the nature and inherent qualities of each subject.——­We have translations from Ovid published in his name, among those poems which pass for his, and for some of which we have undoubted authority, being published by himself, and dedicated to the Earl of Southampton.  He appears also to have been conversant with Plautus, from whence he has taken the plot of one of his plays; he follows the Greek authors, and particularly Dares Phrygius in another, although I will not pretend, continues Mr. Pope, to say in what language he read them.

Mr. Warburton has strongly contended for Shakespear’s learning, and has produced many imitations and parallel passages with ancient authors, in which I am inclined to think him right, and beg leave to produce few instances of it.  He always, says Mr. Warbur-ton, makes an ancient speak the language of an ancient.  So Julius Caesar, Act I. Scene ii.

——­Ye Gods, it doth amazs me, A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world, And bear the palm alone.

This noble image is taken from the Olympic games.  This majestic world is a fine periphrasis of the Roman Empire; majestic, because the Romans ranked themselves on a footing with kings, and a world, because they called their empire Orbis Romanus; but the whole story seems to allude to Caesar’s great exemplar, Alexander, who, when he was asked whether he would run the course of the Olympic games, replied, ’Yes, if the racers were kings.’—­So again in Anthony and Cleopatra, Act I. Scene I. Anthony says with an astonishing sublimity,

  Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide arch
  Of the razed Empire fall.

Taken from the Roman custom of raising triumphal arches to perpetuate their victories.

And again, Act iii.  Scene iv.  Octavia says to Anthony, of the difference between him and her brother,

  “Wars ’twixt you twain would be
  As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
  Should solder up the reft”——­

This thought seems taken from the story of Curtius leaping into the Chasm in the Forum, in order to close it, so that, as that was closed by one Roman, if the whole world were to cleave, Romans only could solder it up.  The metaphor of soldering is extreamly exact, according to Mr. Warburton; for, says he, as metal is soldered up by metal that is more refined than that which it solders, so the earth was to be soldered by men, who are only a more refined earth.

The manners of other nations in general, the Egyptians, Venetians, French, etc. are drawn with equal propriety.  An instance of this shall be produced with regard to the Venetians.  In the Merchant of Venice, Act iv.  Scene I.