SHAKESPEARE AND THE WAR.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPBCTATOR.1
SIE,—It has occurred to me, a constant reader of the Spectator, that the following lines of Shakespeare may excite interest at
the present time, as they come so near in representing the condition of affairs in England to-day. According to Shake- speare's play of Henry VI., Part I., Act I., Scene 1, a messenger from France arrives in England with bad news. When questioned as to whether England's misfortunes in France were due to treachery, the messenger replied thus :- " No ireachery; but want of mon and money. Amongst the soldiers this is muttered, That here you maintain several factions, And whilst a field should be dispatch'd and fought, You are disputing of your generals ; One would have lingering wars with little cost : Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings : A third thinks, without expense at all, By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Awake, awake, English nobility
Let not sloth dim your honours new-begot.",
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