On the absolute merit of the work, I do not wish to anticipate your judgment. [Sidenote: Shakspere's part in _The Two Noble Kinsmen_, is but a sketch; yet it's better than some of his finisht works.] So far as Shakspeare's share in it is concerned, it can be regarded as no more than a sketch, which would be seen to great disadvantage beside finished drawings of the same master. Imperfect as it is, however, it would, if it were admitted among Shakspeare's acknowledged works, outshine many, and do discredit to none. It would be no unfair trial to compare it with those works of his in which he abstains from his more profound investigations into human nature, permitting the poetical world actively to mingle with the dramatic, and the radiant spirit of hope to embrace the sterner genius of knowledge. [Sidenote: Compare it with the _Midsummer Night's Dream_; the colouring and outline are from the same hand. But best, set it beside _Henry VIII._] We may call up before us the luxurious fancies of the 'Midsummer Night's Dream', or even the sylvan landscapes of the Forest of Ardennes, and the pastoral groupes which people it; and we shall gladly acknowledge a similar though harsher style of colouring, and a strength of contour indicating the same origin. But perhaps there is none of his works with which it could be so fairly compared as 'Henry VIII'. [Sidenote: It's more like that, and nearly as good.] In the tone of sentiment and imagination, as well as in other particulars, I perceive many circumstances of likeness, which it will gratify you to trace for yourself. The resemblance is more than a fanciful one, and the neglected play does not materially suffer by the comparison. [Sidenote: _The Two Noble Kinsmen_ ought to be in every '_Shakspere's Works_.'] This drama will never receive the praise which it merits, till it shall have been admitted among Shakspeare's undoubted works; and, I repeat, it is entitled to insertion if any one of the conclusions to which I have attempted to lead you be sound,--if it be true that he wrote all, or most, or a few, of those portions of it, which more competent judges than I have already confidently ascribed to him. Farewell. W. S. _Edinburgh, March 1833._ [In his article on 'Recent Shaksperian Literature' in No. 144 of the _Edinburgh Review_, July, 1840, page 468, Prof. Spalding states that on Shakspere's taking part in _The Two Noble Kinsmen_, his "opinion is not now so decided as it once was."--F.] FOOTNOTES: [1:1] Locrine--Sir John Oldcastle--Lord Cromwell--The London Prodigal--The Puritan--The Yorkshire Tragedy. [1:2] page 2 [2:1] page 3 [3:1] page 4