Shakspeare And The Bible

Shakspeïire eonstantly rcminds ns of tho Bible ; and when a passago comes to niind, the origin of whioh is uncertain, a coinmou impression is thnt it must belong eitlier to the Biblo or to the great poet, and no other author oxcitos the samo feelinjr in au equal degree. ■There are souie curious parallel passages which shows that " the bard of Avon " was familiar with the Scriptures, nnd drow from them rnany of his ideas. For instance : Othdh. - " Iludo am I in my speech." Bible - But though I be rudo in my speech. (2 Cor. xi. G.) Witchqt in Mucbeth. - ' Show his eycs, and grieve his heart." Bible. - " Consume thino eyes, and grieve thync heart." (1 Sam. ii. 33.) Mncbith. - " Life's but a walking shadow." Bible. - " Man walketh in a vain show." (Pji. xxxix. 6.) Mi'cbitli. - "WO will die with harness on (mr hack." Bïlilc. - " Nicanor lay dead in his harness." (1 Man. xv .28.) Banquo. - " Woo to the land that is governed by a child." Bible. - " Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child." (Eccles. x. 16.) Timon of Atkcn. - "Who can cali him his friend that dips in tho samo dish f Bible. - ■" IIu that dippeth his hand with me in tho dish, the samo shall betray me." Similar parallel passages ïnight be quotod by scores ; and we will finish by asking our readers to turn to tho play of " Trolius and Cressida," I. 3, and seo what an admirablo pharafhasë it is of Lukc xxi.25, 26.