WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR.
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This eminent Poet, the Glory of the English Stage (and so much the more eminent, that he gained great applause and commendation, when able Wits were his Contemporaries) was born at Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire, and is the highest honour that Town can boast of. He was one of the Triumvirate, who from Actors, became Makers of Comedies and Tragedies, viz. Christopher Marlow before him, and Mr. John Lacy, since his time, and one in whom three eminent Poets may seem in some sort to be compounded, 1. Martial, in the warlike sound of his Sirname, Hastivibrans, or Shakespear; whence some have supposed him of military extraction. 2. Ovid, the most natural and witty of all Poets; and hence it was that Queen Elizabeth coming into a Grammar-School, made this extemporary Verse.
Persius a Crab-staff, Bawdy Martial, Ovid a fine Wag.
3. Plautus, a most exact Comedian, and yet never any Scholar, as our Shakespear (if alive) would confess himself; but by keeping company with Learned persons, and conversing with jocular Wits, whereto he was naturally inclin'd, he became so famously witty, or wittily famous, that by his own industry, without the help of Learning, he attained to an extraordinary height in all strains of Dramatick Poetry, especially in the Comick part, wherein we may say he outwent himself; yet was he not so much given to Festivity, but that he could (when so disposed) be solemn and serious; so that Heraclitus himself might afford to smile at his Comedies, they were so merry, and Democritus scarce forbear to sigh at his Tragedies, they were so mournful.
Nor were his Studies altogether confined to the Stage, but had excursions into other kinds of Poetry, witness his Poem of the Rape of Lucrece, and that of Venus and Adonis; wherein, to give you a taste of the loftiness of his Style, we shall insert some few Lines of the beginning of the latter.
Even as the Sun with purple-colour'd face Had tane his last leave of the weeping Morn, Rose-cheek'd Adonis hy'd him to the Chase, Hunting he lov'd, but Love he laught to scorn. Sick thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, And like a bold-fac'd Suiter 'gins to woo him. Thrive fairer than my self (thus she begins) The fields chief flower, sweet above compare, Stain to all Nymphs, more lovely than a man; More white and red than Doves or Roses are: Nature that made thee with herself at strife, Says that the world hath ending with thy life, &c
He was an eminent instance of the truth of that Rule, Poeta non fit, sed nascitur; one is not made, but born a Poet; so that as Cornish Diamonds are not polished by any Lapidary, but are pointed and smoothed even as they are taken out of the Earth, so Nature itself was all the Art which was used on him.
He was so great a Benefactor to the Stage, that he wrote of himself eight and forty Plays; whereof 18 Comedies, viz. As you like it, All's well that ends well, A Comedy of Errors, Gentleman of Verona, Loves Labour lost, London Prodigal, Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for measure, Much ado about Nothing, Midsummer Nights Dream, Merchant of Venice, Merry Devil of Edmonton, Mucedorus, the Puritan Widow, the Tempest, Twelf-Night, or what you will, the taming of the Shrew, and a winters Tale. Fourteen Tragedies, viz. Anthony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Cymbeline, Hamlet, Julius Cæsar, Lorrino, Leir and his three Daughters, Mackbeth, Othello the Moor of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Troylus and Cressida, Tymon of Athens, Titus Andronicus, and the Yorkshire Tragedy. Also fifteen Histories, viz. Cromwel's History, Henry 4. in two parts, Henry 5. Henry 6. in three parts, Henry 8. John King of England, in three parts, Pericles Prince of Tyre, Richard 2. Richard 3. and Oldrastes Life and Death. Also the Arraignment of Paris, a Pastoral.
Many were the Wit-combats betwixt him and Ben Johnson, which two we may compare to a Spanish great Gallion, and an English Man of war: Mr. Johnson, (like the former) was built far higher in Learning, solid, but slow in his performances; Shakespear, with the English Man of war, lesser in Bulk, but lighter in sayling, could turn with all Tides, tack about, and take advantage of all Winds, by the quickness of his Wit and Invention. His History of Henry the Fourth is very much commended by some, as being full of sublime Wit, and as much condemned by others, for making Sir John Falstaffe the property of Pleasure for Prince Henry to abuse, as one that was a Thrasonical Puff, and emblem of mock Valour; though indeed he was a man of Arms every inch of him, and as valiant as any his Age, being for his Martial Prowess made Knight of the Garter by King Henry the 6th.
This our famous Comedian died An. Dom. 16—and was buried at Stratford upon Avon, the Town of his Nativity; upon whom one hath bestowed this Epitaph, though more proper had he been buried in Westminster Abbey.
Renowned Spencer, lie a thought more nigh To learned Chaucer, and rare Beaumont lie A little nearer Spencer to make room For Shakespear, in your threefold, fourfold Tomb, To lodge all four in one Bed make a shift Until Doomsday, for hardly will a fifth Betwixt this day and that, by Fates be slain For whom your Curtains may be drawn again. If your precedency in Death do bar A fourth place in your sacred Sepulcher, Under this sacred Marble of thine own, Sleep rare Tragedian Shakespear! sleep alone, Thy unmolested Peace in an unshar'd Cave, Possess as Lord, not Tenant of thy Grave, That unto us, and others it may be Honour hereafter to be laid by thee.