Sejanus and Catiline. But he has done his robberies so openly, that one may see he fears not to be taxed by any law. . . . If I would compare him with Shakespeare, I must acknowledge him the more correct poet, but Shakespeare the greater wit. I admire him, but I love Shakespeare.' Milton has very happily expressed the characteristic differences of the two dramatists in L'Allegro, who counts it among the reasonable pleasures of life to visit the theatre 'If Jonson's learned sock be on, Or sweetest Shakespeare, Fancy's child, The most interesting fact in the personal life of Jonson is his connection with Shakespeare; in particular, in the history of the celebrated Mermaid Club, which met at the tavern of that name and counted also among its members Raleigh, Beaumont, and Fletcher. His best comedies are Every Man in His Humour, Volpone, The Silent Woman, and The Alchemist. THE GENIUS OF SHAKESPEARE. To draw no envy, Shakspeare, on thy name, As neither man nor Muse can praise too much. A little further off, to make thee room: : And art alive still, while thy book doth live, Pacuvius, Accius, him of Cordova dead, To live again, to hear thy buskin tread, Of all that insolent Greece or haughty Rome As they were not of Nature's family. Yet must I not give Nature all; thy art, For a good poet's made as well as born. And such wert thou! Look how the father's face Of Shakspeare's mind and manners brightly shines In each of which he seems to shake a lance, As brandished at the eyes of ignorance. Sweet swan of Avon! what a sight it were To see thee in our water yet appear, And make those flights upon the banks of Thames, But stay, I see thee in the hemisphere Advanced, and made a constellation there! Or influence, chide, or cheer the drooping stage, Which since thy flight from hence hath mourned like night, And despairs day, but for thy volume's light! To the Memory of my beloved Master, William Shakspeare, and what he hath left us. GOOD LIFE LONG LIFE. Ir is not growing like a tree In bulk, doth make man better be, Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, A lily of a day Is fairer far in May: Although it fall and die that night, It was the plant and flower of light! In small proportions we just beauties see: The Forest. AN EPITAPH. HERE lies, to each her parents' ruth, At six months' end she parted hence, With safety of her innocence: Whose soul heaven's queen (whose name she bears), In comfort of her mother's tears, Hath placed among her virgin train: On my first Daughter. HYMN TO DIANA. QUEEN and huntress, chaste and fair, State in wonted manner keep. Earth, let not thy envious shade Heaven to clear when day did close. Bless us then with wished sight, Goddess excellently bright! Lay thy bow of pearl apart, And thy crystal shining quiver; Give unto the flying hart Space to breathe, how short soever: Thou that mak'st a day of night, Goddess excellently bright! THE SWEET NEGLECT. STILL to be neat, still to be drest, Cynthia's Revels. Still to be powdered, still perfumed : Though art's hid causes are not found, That makes simplicity a grace: |