[Sidenote: Shakspere never made the misanthrope's mistake.] [Sidenote: His sarcasm did not spring from envy.] Shakspeare's well-balanced mind was in no danger of this mistake; his keen-sightedness often makes him sarcastic, but the sarcasm forced on a mind which contrasts the poorness of reality with the splendours of imagination, is of a different temper from that which is bred from lowness of thought and fretful envy. [Sidenote: _Timon's_ sternness is softened by tenderness.] Shakspeare has devoted one admirable drama to the exhibition of the misanthrophic spirit, as produced by wrongs in a noble heart; but the sternness which is the master-note of that work is softened by the most beautiful intervals of redeeming tenderness and good feeling. [Sidenote: _Troilus_ is Shakspere's only bitter play.] The only work of his evidently written in ill humour with mankind, is the Troilus, which, both in idea and execution, is the most bitter of satires. The application of the distinctive qualities of Shakspeare's tone of thought to the spirit of 'The Two Noble Kinsmen', is a task for your own judgment and discrimination, and would not be aided by suggestions of mine. I have stated the result to which I have been led by such an application; and I am confident that you will be able to reach the same conclusion by a path which may be shorter than any which I could clear for you. In connection however with this inquiry, I would direct your attention to one other truth possessing a clear application here. [Sidenote: Shakspere's thoughtfulness a Moral distinction.] Shakspeare's thoughtfulness goes the length of becoming a Moral distinction and excellence. [Sidenote: His part of _The Two Noble Kinsmen_ is of higher tone, and purer, than Fletcher's.] That such a difference does exist between Shakspeare and Fletcher, is denied by no one; and the moral tone of this play, in those parts which I have [101:2]ventured to call Shakspeare's, is distinctly a higher one than Fletcher's. It is uniform and pure, though the moral inquisition is less severe than Shakspeare's often is. [Sidenote: Massinger and Ben Jonson too more moral than Fletcher.] If Massinger or Jonson had been the poet alleged to have written part or the whole of the work, it would have been difficult to draw any inference from this circumstance by itself; but when the question is only between Shakspeare and Fletcher, even an abstinence from gross violation or utter concealment of moral truth is an important element in the decision; and the positively high strain here maintained is a very strong argument in favour of the purer writer. [Sidenote: Are Johnson, &c. right in condemning Shakspere's morality.]