Of all the ghosts that have ever appeared on the stage, a very learned and judicious foreign critick gives the preference to this of our author. These are his words speaking of this tragedy--"Nec quidquam in illa admirabilius quam phasma quoddam horrendum, quod omnibus abis spectris quibuscum scatet Angelorum tragoedia longe (pace D--ysn V Doctiss dixerim) praetulerim." ]

[Footnote 2: We have already given instances of this figure.]

SCENE II.--KING, GHOST.

_King_. What noise is this? What villain dares, At this dread hoar, with feet and voice profane, Disturb our royal walls?

_Ghost_. One who defies Thy empty power to hurt him; [1] one who dares Walk in thy bedchamber.

[Footnote 1: Almanzor reasons in the same manner:

A ghost I'll be; And from a ghost, you know, no place is free. --_Conquest of Granada_. ]

_King_. Presumptuous slave! Thou diest.

_Ghost_. Threaten others with that word: [1] I am a ghost, and am already dead.

[Footnote 1: "The man who writ this wretched pun," says Mr D., "would have picked your pocket:" which he proceeds to shew 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, ]

_King_. Ye stars! 'tis well, Were thy last hour to come, This moment had been it; [1] yet by thy shroud I'll pull thee backward, squeeze thee to a bladder, Till thou dost groan thy nothingness away. Thou fly'st! 'Tis well. [_Ghost retires_. [2] I thought what was the courage of a ghost! Yet, dare not, on thy life--Why say I that, Since life thou hast not?--Dare not walk again Within these walls, on pain of the Red Sea. For, if henceforth I ever find thee here, As sure, sure as a gun, I'll have thee laid--

[Footnote 1: 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. --_Conquest of Granada_.

Snatch me, ye gods, this moment into nothing. --_Cyrus the Great_. ]

[Footnote 2: So, art thou gone? Thou canst no conquest boast. I thought what was the courage of a ghost. --_Conquest of Granada_.

King Arthur seems to be as brave a fellow as Almanzor, who says most heroically,

In spite of ghosts I'll on. ]

_Ghost_. Were the Red Sea a sea of Hollands gin, The liquor (when alive) whose very smell I did detest--did loathe--yet, for the sake Of Thomas Thumb, I would be laid therein.

_King_. Ha! said you?

_Ghost_. Yes, my liege, I said Tom Thumb, Whose father's ghost I am--once not unknown To mighty Arthur. But, I see, 'tis true, The dearest friend, when dead, we all forget.