_Coriolanus_.—We cannot help being sorry that Shakespeare should have gone out of his way to select such a subject. It leaves a disagreeable taste in the mouth. The aristocrat is overdone. No true aristocrat would talk such rant as Coriolanus talks in Act i. Sc. I. Shakespeare omits Plutarch’s account of the oppression of the plebeians, or only slightly alludes to it. Volumnia’s contempt for the people is worse than that of Coriolanus. To her they are not human, and she does not consider that common truthfulness is binding in her intercourse with them. ‘It lies you on to speak To the people, not by your own instruction, Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you, But with such words that are but rooted in Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables Of no allowance to your bosom’s truth.’ Reading such passages as these we understand Whitman when he says that although Shakespeare is ‘of astral genius,’ he is ‘entirely fit for feudalism . . . is incarnated, uncompromising feudalism,’ and contains much which is ‘ever offensive to democracy.’ * * * * * _Winter’s Tale_.—Coleridge is perhaps super-subtle in his discrimination between the jealousy of Leontes and that of Othello, which Coleridge will not call jealousy. But the difference is not greater than that between the two men. The passion of Leontes is roused simply by Hermione’s giving her hand to Polixenes. This common courtesy is ‘paddling palms.’ There is something contemptible in his transports: not so in the case of Othello. Leontes cursing Hermione in the presence of his lords is unendurable. Leontes in his passion disbelieves the oracle. ‘There is no truth at all i’ the oracle: The sessions shall proceed: this is mere falsehood.’ But he is reversed, suddenly, completely, when he is told his son is dead. ‘Apollo’s angry; and the heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice.’ Perdita is brought up by a shepherd and talks like a well-educated patrician’s daughter. ‘O Proserpina,’ etc. Polixenes says to Camillo: ‘This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever Ran on the green-sward: nothing she does or seems But smacks of something greater than herself, Too noble for this place.’ Here again the emphasis on descent is exaggerated and we resent it. Leontes after the statue is unveiled— ‘But yet, Paulina, Hermione was not so much wrinkled, nothing So aged as this seems.’ Who can read this without choking? Like Exeter in _Henry V._: ‘I had not so much of man in me, And all my mother came into mine eyes, And gave me up to tears.’ Could I have continued to live when that music sounded and she descended? I think not. I should have sought pardon and death. ‘Now, in age, Is she become the suitor?’