alexander pope, 1725: "his characters are so much nature her self that 'tis a sort of injury to call them by so distant a name as copies of her. those of other poets have a constant resemblance, which shews that they receiv'd them from one another and were but multiplyers of the same image: each picture like a mock-rainbow is but the reflexion of a reflexion. but every single character in shakespeare is as much an individual as those in life itself; it is as impossible to find any two alike; and such as from their relation or affinity in any respect appear most to be twins will upon comparison be found remarkably distinct. to this life and variety of character we must add the wonderful preservation of it; which is such throughout his plays that had all the speeches been printed without the very names of the persons i believe one might have apply'd them with certainty to every speaker. . . . i will conclude by saying of shakespeare, that with all his faults, in comparison of those that are more finished and regular, as upon an ancient majestick piece of "gothick" architecture, compared with a neat modern building: the latter is more elegant and glaring, but the former is more strong and more solemn . . nor does the whole fail to strike us with greater reverence, though many of the parts are childish, ill-placed, and unequal to its grandeur." preface to pope's edition of shakespeare's works