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    It is useful to see this play , in many respects besides the pleasure of observing the course of its events , the skill of the performers ^ and hearing the noble language of poetry and passion . Valuable information is given ; we obtain an insight into characters and motives , and learn to be upon our guard against the intrigues of government , and the blinding contrivances and

    subterfuges of knaves in power , who , for the gratification of their own individual selfishness , their lust of domination , and their greedy appetite for accumulation to themselves alone , would cast devastation over the bosom of fertility , and sacrifice thousands and tens of thousands of better men in a fit of spleen , perhaps occasioned by some defect in the tricks of courtesy ; such , at least , has been the pretence ; and they will talk of ' wounded

    honour , the kingdom ' s wound ! the nation ' s wound ! Here we have two legal ruffians , who , in attainment of an object for which the nation of neither cared a straw , band hosts of men together , and set them to cut each other ' throats , for their pleasure , with less remorse than if they were so many stock-fish or salt-herrings . Both Philip and John give ample proof that their squabble , the one in generous vindication of Arthur ' s rights , and the other in ' honourable' defence of ' his own , ' had little interference with

    the question of justice or honesty . Honour is quite another thing ; there was plenty of honour . Arthur and his cause are cast to the dogs when the generous and chivalric Philip finds he can make up the matter with greater advantage to himself . And (John blusters for ' his own , ' while each breath of his being tells him that claim to his own' is a lie . Of this cajolery we have

    had plenty in our time ; and it is a source of lamentation in some places , that we shall not easily take much more of it , that the 4 merrie England' of Toryism is gone . And , look ye , reader , the principal instigator of most of these murders , robberies , and ro gueries , is that essence-bottle of sophistical villainy , Pandulf , in whose immediate closeness of trick , and remoteness and

    comprehensiveness of cunning , breathes and lives one , only one , wish , — it makes his heart , —priestly domination ; to obtain and secure which he would make the cradles of sleeping babes dens of hissing adders , and change all the crystal waters of the universe into stagnant ponds and seas of putrid blood ; and the monster talks of faith and religion too !* Oh , Shakspeare ! thou hast given us a record which heaven keep to us in warning , and give us sense to read , or we shall have ' merrie England' again . Pel . Verjuice .

    * ' The reverence deep and holy , which on lawn and ermine saw Clod ' s own stamp ; and in their wearers loved reli g , feared the law . ' Vide Blackwood , of December

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    King John . 121

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    No . 86 . K

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1834, page 121, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2630/page/37/