My Lord Bacon is of opinion that whatever is known of arts and sciences might be proved to have lurked in the Proverbs of Solomon. I am of the same opinion in relation to those above-mentioned; at least I am confident that a more perfect system of ethics, as well as economy, might be compiled out of them than is at present extant, either in the works of the ancient philosophers, or those more valuable, as more voluminous ones of the modern divines.] [Footnote 163: Of all the particulars in which the modern stage falls short of the ancients, there is none so much to be lamented as the great scarcity of ghosts. Whence this proceeds I will not presume to determine. Some are of opinion that the moderns are unequal to that sublime language which a ghost ought to speak. One says, ludicrously, that ghosts are out of fashion; another, that they are properer for comedy; forgetting, I suppose, that Aristotle hath told us that a ghost is the soul of tragedy; for so I render the [Greek: psychê ho mythos tês tragôdias], which M. Dacier, amongst others, hath mistaken; I suppose misled by not understanding the Fabula of the Latins, which signifies a ghost as well as fable. "Te premet nox, fabulæque manes."--Horace. Of all the ghosts that have ever appeared on the stage, a very learned and judicious foreign critic gives the preference to this of our author. These are his words, speaking of this tragedy:--"Nec quidquam in illâ admirabilius quàm phasma quoddam horrendum, quod omnibus aliis spectris, quibuscum scatet Angelorum tragoedia, longè (pace D--ysii V. Doctiss. dixerim) prætulerim."] [Footnote 164: We have already given instances of this figure.] [Footnote 165: Almanzor reasons in the same manner: "A ghost I'll be; And from a ghost, you know, no place is free."--"Conq. of Gran."] [Footnote 166: "The man who writ this wretched pun," says Mr. D., "would have picked your pocket:" which he proceeds to show not only bad in itself, but doubly so on so solemn an occasion. And yet, in that excellent play of Liberty Asserted, we find something very much resembling a pun in the mouth of a mistress, who is parting with the lover she is fond of: "_Ul._ Oh, mortal woe! one kiss, and then farewell. _Irene._ The gods have given to others to fare well, O! miserably must Irene fare." Agamemnon, in the Victim, is full as facetious on the most solemn occasion--that of sacrificing his daughter: "Yes, daughter, yes; you will assist the priest; Yes, you must offer up your--vows for Greece." ] [Footnote 167: "I'll pull thee backwards by thy shroud to light, Or else I'll squeeze thee, like a bladder, there. And make thee groan thyself away to air."--"Conq. of Gran." "Snatch me, ye gods, this moment into nothing."--"Cyrus the Great." ] [Footnote 168: "So, art thou gone? Thou canst no conquest boast, I thought what was the courage of a ghost."--"Conq. of Gran."