Note 139 — Chapter VI · CLASSIFICATION OF THE CORRESPONDENCIES AND PARALLELISMS OF SHAKESPEARE WITH EMBLEM WRITERS. (continued 2)

May we not in one instance illustrate the thought from a poet of the last century?—

“Who, who would live, my Nana, just to breathe

This idle air, and indolently run,

Day after day, the still returning round

Of life’s mean offices, and sickly joys?

But in the service of mankind to be

A guardian god below; still to employ

The mind’s brave ardour in heroic aims,

Such as may raise us o’er the grovelling herd,

And make us shine for ever—that is life.”—Thomson