Thy sons of glory many! Alfred thine, In whom the splendour of heroic war, And more heroic peace, when govern’d well, Combine; whose hallow’d name _the Virtues Saint_, And his own Muses love; the best of kings! . . . . . . Fair thy renown In awful sages and in noble bards; Soon as the light of dawning Science spread Her orient ray, and waked the Muses’ song. . . . . . . For lofty sense, Creative fancy, and inspection keen Through the deep windings of the human heart, Is not wild Shakespeare thine and Nature’s boast? _The Seasons: Summer._ 1727, ll. 1442-6, 1479-83, 1531-4, and 1563-6. LEWIS THEOBALD, 1733 (1688-1744) In how many points of light must we be obliged to gaze at this great poet! In how many branches of excellence to consider and admire him! Whether we view him on the side of art or nature, he ought equally to engage our attention; whether we respect the force and greatness of his genius, the extent of his knowledge and reading, the power and address with which he throws out and applies either nature or learning, there is ample scope both for our wonder and pleasure. If his diction and the clothing of his thoughts attract us, how much more must we be charmed with the richness and variety of his images and ideas! If his images and ideas steal into our souls, and strike upon our fancy, how much are they improved in price when we come to reflect with what propriety and justness they are applied to character. If we look into his characters, and how they are furnished and proportioned to the employment he cuts out for them, how are we taken up with the mastery of his portraits! What draughts of Nature! What variety of originals, and how differing each from the other! How are they dressed from the stores of his own luxurious imagination; without being the apes of mode, or borrowing from any foreign wardrobe! each of them are the standard of fashion for themselves: like gentlemen that are above the direction of their tailors, and can adorn themselves without the aid of imitation. Preface to _The Works of Shakespeare, collated with the Oldest Copies and corrected; with Notes, Explanatory and Critical_. By Mr. Theobald. 1733, vol. i. pp. ii-iii. JOSEPH WARTON, 1740 (1722-1800)