Julius Cæfar. afperity, reproaches Caffius, not only for refufing him fome fupplies he had folicited, but even with venality in felling public offices; fuch ftinging allegations would roufe a more patient spirit than Caffius feems to have: in fhort, the whole fcene is a powerful, beautiful, inftructive contraft; fhewing the great advantage cool deliberation of mind has over intemperate rafhness. Their reconciliation is brought about in a very becoming manner. SHAKESPEARE, immediately after this noble interview, for what reason we cannot divine, has introduced a poet, to speak fome as trifling and fuperfluous lines as ever were penned; fo disgraceful a rhimer is justly banished the stage. The circumftance of Portia's death is well mentioned, and Brutus's behaviour quite characteristic; we also much approve the fhort debate which arifes upon marching to Philippi, as it brings to view the main ftory. If we could relish ghosts, Julius Cæfar's, in the tent of Brutus, would be very admiffible; in action, it certainly gives folemnity, and makes a ftriking conclufion to the fourth act. This ghoft is introduced upon the ftage, and we think very abfurdly, a fecond time. Antony and Octavius begin the fifth act, in the fields of Philippi; after a few short speeches, Brutus, Caffius, and their party appear, when a parly and conference enfue; it may perhaps be an instance of overstrained delicacy, to make an objection to what paffes between the hoftile leaders upon this occafion, but we apprehend the terms of reprobation they exchange, are not quite confiftent with fuch exalted characters. What Julius Cæfar. What Caffius fays to Meffala, after Octavius and Antony go off, concerning unfavourable omens, is very preparative for the catastrophe of the piece; the parting of Brutus and Caffius, from the poffibility of never meeting again, is truly pathetic, and well performed, muft deeply strike every generous mind. The battle now begins, Caffius's party gives way; unable to bear the idea of defeat, that chief, with the fame precipitation of temper which has all along marked his character, determines upon death; and commands Pindarus to perform, what amongst the Romans was deemed an act of friendship, adminiftring of fate: from what follows, it appears, that a mistake has led him into this irreparable step, which affects Titinius fo much, that he puts an end to his own burthenfome being with Caffius's fword. The fcenes between this, and that of Brutus and his friends, after a total defeat, are very trifling; nor can we think that SHAKESPEARE has taken fo much care to render his amiable hero's fall important, as he might have done in the laft fcene Antony pronounces a very juft and concife, yet copious clogium upon Brutus. A : The fubject of this tragedy is of a very interesting nature, and its tendency fingularly useful in a ftate like that of Great Britain, The unities are no doubt fadly mutilated, yet does it not appear in representation fo irregular as it really is; the characters are very numerous, and thofe of any confideration, fupported with great confiftency. Julius Cæfar appears poffeffed of fuch intrepidity and openness of mind, as recommend him, though the enflaver of his country, to the refpect of an audience: Julius Cæfar. audience; as a part, there is no opportunity for an actor to difplay capital abilities; the best perfonators of him we remember were Meffrs. BRIDGWATER and SPARKS. Brutus is a character of fingular dignity, amiable in every point of view, except that violent breach of gratitude, confpiring against, and perfonally affailing the life of a man, who, upon moft difinterested principles, had proved himself his faft friend; this is a point of doubt, which has been often debated, and as often left undetermined: however, as the Roman idea of patriotism, not only justified, but applauded a man, even in the act of fuicide, where the good of his country was effentially concerned. It may eafily be admitted an established rule, to facrifice the dearest friend, nay, the nearest relation, for the fame glorious caufe; and, in this view, Brutus ftands exculpated, for Cæfar's ufurpation of power, most certainly broke off all focial connection between him and every citizen, influenced by the principles of liberty. After this defence, we are forry that he appears only as a tool of Caffius's policy, in the piece before us; his own virtue and fenfibility do not poffefs fufficient activity to lead in the cause of patriotism, though, when roused, they join the general concern with cordiality and firmnefs. A mind of fpotless integrity, feems to poffefs him through the whole; and though there is a flight charge of weaknefs a gainst him, yet there is an engaging uniformity which preferves him in our efteem while alive, and renders his fall an incident of tender concern. Brutus requires good, but not extenfive powers of reprefentation; a graceful figure, with full, pla Julius Cæfar. part, fuffici cid articulation of voice, muft, in this ently gratify a fenfible fpectator. Mr. QUIN having much less monotony in Brutus than any other tragedy part, that is the verfe not affording him fo many opportunities for periodical cadences, he appeared more refpectable, and lefs offenfive than the bufkin generally rendered him. His oration to the Plebeians had great, and his fcene with Caffius very fingular merit; in feveral other places he was heavy and infipid. Mr. SHERIDAN, curtailed by nature of almost every favourable, adequate, external requifite, yet manifested great judgment in this character, maintaining stricter equality through the whole than Mr. QUIN; if he could not rife fo high in the view of criticism, neither did he fall fo low. His perfon, though unimportant, by the aid of drefs, was not totally void of respect but a stiff fameness of action, frequently rifing to extravagance, fuperadded artificial to natural deficiency. SHAKESPEARE'S meaning he clearly conceived, and fully conveyed, but frequent, ungracious fnip-fnap breaks of voice, and a painful attempt to keep up the last fyllable of every fentence, his peculiar fault, gave ftrong fpecimens of oratorical diffonance. Mr. WALKER, within these few years, made a decent fhift with the part at Covent Garden; at prefent, there is not the flighteft trace of it to be found at either house. Caffius is in every refpect a ftriking contraft to Brutus; an enemy to Cæfar rather from envy and private pique, than public fpirited principles: proud, impatient, fubtle, irafcible, without any kind of virtue, but the military one of courage, to recommend Julius Cæfar. commend him; yet from fome fpirited and plaufible declarations in the caufe of freedom, an audience are induced to view him as a more valuable object than he really is, andthough his fall appears to be an unjustifiable effect of impetuofity, yet we are apt to lament it. As a part, the representation of Caffius is more difficult, and requires much greater powers of expreffion than Brutus; however, this is to be remarked, that an indifferent actor can much more eafily catch applaufe from an injudicious audience in the former, than the latter; indeed, if two capital performers, of equal merit, prefent themselves to the public in these characters, the odds are great but Caffius outftrips his competitor in noify approbation. In the courfe of our theatrical obfervation, we recollect but one good Caffius, Mr. RYAN; the techy degree of paffion defcribed in this part, and the general mode of mind which actuates it, he hit off in a very characteristic manner. Mr. MosSOP, in attempting this fiery Roman, fhewed much power, but very little nature; and every other candidate we have feen funk below contempt; he is, like Brutus, fo unhappily fituated, as not to have the fhadow of a reprefentative at either theatre, Cafca's cynical roughnefs was admirably defcribed by Mr. SPARKS, nor did he fuftain much injury from Mr. RIDOUT's abilities; yet even this confpirator would find but indifferent fupport from any exiting fon of the buskin. From the outlines of Mark Antony's character, as drawn not only by his friend Cæfar, but the confpirators alfo, we should be apt to deem him a mere trifling, unimportant reveller; yet, when circumVOL. II. ftances D |