13 MAY 1916, Page 10

SHAKESPEARE ON INVASION.

ITO TILE EDITOR 07 THE SPECTATOR...)

Sat,—Shakespeare, the patriot, is familiar to all your readers. But none of them, I think, has yet reminded you how he foresees the invasion of this island, rouses the Government, and pillories the pacificist [The Hun] " spreads his banners in our noiseless land ; With plumed helm thy State begins to threat ; Whilst thou—a moral fool—siest still, and criest 'Alack why does he so ? ' " And this he puts into the mouth of Goneril I who rises, for once, to the occasion and upbraids her husband, Albany.-1 am, Sir, &e.,