A was at Bologna, a stone, wonderful in its .....as brought to him from the East Indies, by a sppeared by his manners to be a Barbarian. It all burning, with an incredible splendour; flashing 、、、A MAAxing on every side its beams, it filled the surroundgat distance with a light scarcely by any eyes endurable. Nevada Sp & was wonderful, that being most impatient of the earth, 12 wax cystined, it would force its way, and immediately fly aloft; xd it be contained by any art of man in a narrow place, 4 sd only to love those of ample extent. It was of the purity, stained by no soil nor spot. Certain shape it had a for its figure was inconstant, and momentarily changing, and hough at a distance it was beautiful to the eye, it would not suffer itself o be handled with impunity, but hurt those who obstinately struggled with it, as many persons before many spectators experienced. If by chance any part of it was broken off, for it was not very hard, it became nothing less." * An account equally minute, and in terms nearly similar, occurs in Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584, and both were probably taken from the same source, the writings of Fernel or Fernelius. This physician died in 1558; and his description, as copied by Scot, contributed, no doubt, to prolong the public credulity in this kingdom; * Thalaba the Destroyer, vol. i. p. 39–41. edit. 1801. though the English philosopher attempts to explain the phenomenon by supposing that actual flame was concentrated and burning in the centre of the gem. "Johannes Fernelius writeth of a strange stone latelie brought out of India, which hath in it such a marvellous brightnes, puritie and shining, that therewith the aire round about is so lightned and cleared, that one may see to read thereby in the darknes of night. It will not be conteined in a close roome, but requireth an open and free place. It would not willingly rest or staie here belowe on the earth, but alwaies laboureth to ascend up into the aire. If one presse it downe with his hand, it resisteth, and striveth verie sharplie. It is beautifull to behold, without either spot or blemish, and yet verie unpleasant to taste or feele. If any part thereof be taken awaie, it is never a whit diminished, the forme thereof being inconstant, and at everie moment mutable.” * The carbuncle was believed to be an animal substance generated in the body of a serpent, to possess a sexual distinction, the males having a star-formed burning nucleus, while the females dispersed their brilliancy on all sides in a formless blaze; and, like other transparent gems, to have the power of expelling evil spirits. 66 While on the subject of superstitious notions relative to luminous bodies, we may remark, that in the age of Shakspeare, the wandering lights, termed Will-o-wisp and Jack-o-Lantern, were supposed by the common people to be occasioned by demons and malignant fairies, with the view of leading the benighted traveller to his destruction. Many tymes," says Lavaterus," candles and small fiers appeare in the night, and seeme to run up and downe; those fiers some time seeme to come togither, and by and by to be severed and run abroade, and at the last to vanish clean away. Somtime these fiers go alone in the night season, and put such as see them, as they travel by night, in great fear. But these things, and many suche lyke, have * Discoverie of Witchcraft, p. 306. their natural causes and yet I will not denye, but that many tymes Dyvels delude men in this manner.” * Stephano, in the Tempest, attributes this phenomenon to the agency of a mischievous fairy: "Monster, your fairy, which, you say, is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us." t Various causes have been assigned for the appearance of the ignis fatuus; modern chemistry asserts it to be occasioned by hydrogen gas, evolving from decaying vegetables, and the decomposition of. pyritic coal; and when seen hovering on the surface of burial grounds, to originate from the same gas in a higher state of volatility, through the agency of phosphoric impregnation. The partial view which we have now taken of the superstitions of the country, as they existed in the age of Shakspeare, will, in part, demonstrate how great was the credulity subsisting at this period; how well calculated were many of these popular delusions for the purposes of the dramatic writer, and how copiously and skilfully have these been moulded and employed by the great poet of our stage. A considerable portion also of the manners, customs, and diversions of the country, which had been necessarily omitted in the preceding chapters, will be found included in this sketch of a part of the popular creed, and will contribute to heighten the effect of a picture, which can only receive its completion through the mutual aid of various subsequent departments of the present work. * Of Ghostes and Spirites walking by nyght, p. 51. + Reed's Shakspeare, vol. iv. p. 142, 143. Act iv. sc. 1. CHAPTER X. BIOGRAPHY OF SHAKSPEARE RESUMED HIS IRREGULARITIES DEER-STEALING IN SIR AFTER the slight sketch of rural life which we have just given; of its manners, customs, diversions, and superstitions, as they existed during the latter part of the sixteenth century, we shall now proceed with the biographical narrative of our author, resuming it from the close of the fourth chapter. To regulate the workings of an ardent imagination, and to control the effervescence of the passions in early life, experience has uniformly taught us to consider as a task of great difficulty; and seldom, indeed, capable of being achieved without the advice and direction of those, who, under the guidance of similar admonition, have succesfully borne up against the numerous temptations to which human frailty is subjected. That Shakspeare possessed powers of fancy greatly beyond the common lot of humanity, and that with these is almost constantly connected a correspondent fervency of temperament and passion, will not probably be denied; and if it be recollected that the poet became the arbitrator of his own conduct at the early age of eighteen, not much wonder will be excited, although he was a married man, and a father, if we have to record some juvenile irregularities. Tradition affirms, and the report has been repeated by Mr. Rowe, that he had the misfortune, shortly after his settlement in Stratford, to form an intimacy with some young men of thoughtless and dissipated character, who, among other illegalities, had been in the habit of deer-stealing, their natural causes: and yet I will not denye, but t Dyvels delude men in this manner.” * Stephano, in the Tempest, attributes this r agency Various causes have been assigned for The partial view which w the country, as they exi demonstrate how great how well calculated purposes of the d have these been stage. A cons diversions of preceding the pop1 pictur aid 1 lea of a panions to Sir lebrity as de gdale, r, was ry the abeth, posite ted of till pre aly the grand e state. Fuller has of Warwickshire in the s us, that his armorial bearings (or Lucies) Hauriant Ar. * questered lawns, and romantic recesses of ...d very frequently attract the footsteps of our dependent of any lure which the capture of its game justly surmise; and still more confidently may his meditations or diversions in this forest laid the a part of the beautiful scenery which occurs in As You woodland pictures in this delightful play are faithful what he had felt and seen in those secluded haunts, parA description of the wounded deer, the pathos and accuracy are no doubt referrible to the actual contemplation of such an , in the shades of Fulbroke; they strikingly prove, indeed, that e das of the chase, though fostered in the morn of youth, had not, repre • Worthies, part iii. p. 132. The Luce or Pike is very abundant in this esde Avon, and there may still be seen in the kitchen of Charlecot-house, the w.vota pike, weighing forty pounds, a native of this stream, and caught in the year |