His youthful poems, in spite of their unfortunate and unworthy subjects, and his sonnets also, reveal this tendency.

Nothing can surpass the greatness of Shakspeare where he is at his greatest; but it is wrong to speak of him as if even he were perfect.

He had serious defects, and not those only proceeding from carelessness.

For instance, in his delineations of character he does not assign as large a place to religious sentiment as enters into the constitution of human nature under normal circumstances.

If his dramas had more religion in them, they would be truer representations of man, as well as more elevated, and of a more searching interest.' Wordsworth used to warn young poets against writing poetry remote from human interest.