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they admitted him into the confidence of their state affairs. Mr. Malone, whose opinions are entitled to a higher degree of credit, thinks that his prose compositions, if they should be discovered, would exhibit the same perspicuity, the same cadence, the same elegance and vigour, which we find in his plays. It is unfortunate, however, for all wishes and all conjectures, that not a line of Shakspeare's manuscript is known to exist, and his prose writings are no where hinted at. We have only printed copies of his plays and poems, and those so depraved by carelessness, or ignorance, that all the labour of all his commentators has not yet been able to restore them to a probable purity; many of the greatest difficulties attending the perusal of them yet remain, and will require what it is scarcely possible to expect, greater sagacity, and more happy conjecture, than have hitherto been employed.

Of his POEMS, it is, perhaps, necessary that some notice should be taken, although they have never been favourites with the public, and have seldom been reprinted with his plays. Shortly after his death, Mr. Malone informs us, a very incorrect impression of them was issued out, which in every subsequent edition was implicitly followed, until he published a correct edition, in 1780, with illustrations, &c. But the peremptory decision of Mr. Steevens, on the merits of these poems, must not be omitted. "We have not reprinted the Sonnets, &c. of Shakspeare, because the strongest act of parliament that could be framed would fail to compel readers into their service. Had Shakspeare produced no other works than these, his name would have reached us with as little celebrity as time has conferred on that of Thomas Watson, an older and much more elegant sonnetteer." Severe as this may appear, it only amounts to the general conclusion which modern critics have formed. Still it cannot be denied that there are many scattered beauties among his Sonnets, and in The Rape of Lucrece; enough, it is hoped, to justify their admission into the present collection, especially as the Songs, &c. from his plays have been added, and a few smaller pieces selected by Mr. Ellis. Although they are now lost in the blaze of his dramatic genius, Mr. Malone remarks, “that they seem to have gained him more reputation than his plays: at least, they are oftener mentioned, or alluded to."

The elegant Preface of Dr. Johnson gives an account of the attempts made, in the early part of the last century, to revive the memory and reputation of our poet, by Rowe, Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, and Warburton; whose respective merits he has characterised with candour, and with singular felicity of expression. Shakspeare's works may be overloaded with criticism; for what writer has excited so much curiosity, and so many opinions? But Johnson's Preface is an accompaniment worthy of the genius it celebrates. His own edition followed in 1765; and a second, in conjunction with Mr. Steevens, in 1773. The third edition of the joint editors appeared in 1785, the fourth in 1793, and the last, and most complete, in 1803, in twenty-one volumes, octavo. Mr. Malone's edition was published in 1790, in ten volumes, crown octavo, and is now become exceedingly scarce. His original notes and improvements, however, are incorporated in the editions of 1793 and 1803, by Mr. Steevens. Mr. Malone says, that from the year 1716 to the date of his edition in 1790, that is, in seventy-four years, "above thirty thousand copies of Shakspeare have been dispersed through England." To this we may add, with confidence, that since 1790 that number has been doubled. During the year 1803, no fewer than nine editions were in the press, belonging to the proprietors of this work; and if we add the editions printed by others, and those published in Scotland, Ireland, and America, we may surely fix the present as the highest

era of Shakspeare's popularity. Nor, among the honours paid to his genius, ought we to forget the very magnificent edition undertaken by Messrs. Boydell. Still less ought it to be forgotten how much the reputation of Shakspeare was revived by the unrivalled excellence of Garrick's performance. His share in directing the public taste towards the study of Shakspeare was, perhaps, greater than that of any individual in his time; and such was his zeal, and such his success, in this laudable attempt, that he may readily be forgiven the foolish mummery of the Stratford Jubilee.

When public opinion had begun to assign to Shakspeare the very high rank he was destined to hold, he became the promising object of fraud and imposture. This, we have already observed, he did not wholly escape in his own time, and he had the spirit, or policy, to despise it". It was reserved for modern impostors, however, to avail themselves of the obscurity in which his history is involved. In 1751, a book was published, entitled "A compendious or brief Examination of certayne ordinary Complaints of divers of our Countrymen in those our Days: which, although they are in some parte unjust and frivolous, yet are they all by way of Dialogue, throughly debated and discussed by William Shakspeare, gentleman." This had been originally published in 1581; but Dr. Farmer has clearly proved, that W. S. gent. the only authority for attributing it to Shakspeare in the reprinted edition, meant William Stafford, gent. Theobald, the same accurate critic informs us, was desirous of palming upon the world a play called Double Falsehood, for a posthumous one of Shakspeare. In 1770 was reprinted at Feversham, an old play called The Tragedy of Arden of Feversham and Black Will, with a preface attributing it to Shakspeare, without the smallest foundation. But these were trifles, compared to the atrocious attempt made in 1795-6, when, besides a vast mass of prose and verse, letters, &c. pretendedly in the hand-writing of Shakspeare and his correspondents, an entire play, entitled Vortigern, was not only brought forward for the astonishment of the admirers of Shakspeare, but actually performed on Drury Lane stage. It would be unnecessary to expatiate on the merits of this play, which Mr. Steevens has very happily characterised as "the performance of a madman, without a lucid interval," or to enter more at large into the nature of a fraud so recent, and so soon acknowledged by the authors of it. It produced, however, an interesting controversy between Mr. Malone and Mr. George Chalmers, which, although mixed with some unpleasant asperities, was extended to inquiries into the history and antiquities of the stage, from which future critics and historians may derive considerable information 13.

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12 Mr. Malone has given a list of fourteen plays ascribed to Shakspeare, either by the editors of the two later folios, or by the compilers of ancient catalogues. Of these, Pericles has found advocates for its admission into his works. C.

13 This sketch of Shakspeare's Life was drawn up by the present writer for a variorum edition of his works published in 1804; and no additional light having since been thrown on Shakspeare's history, it is here reprinted with very few alterations. C.

POEMS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

VENUS AND ADONIS.

Vilia miretur vulgus, mihi flavus Apollo Pocula Castalia plena ministrat aqua. Ovid.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

HENRY WRIOTHESLY,

EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TITCHFIELD.

RIGHT HONOURABLE,

I KNOW not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your lordship, nor how the

world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burthen: only if your honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your honour to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer your own wish, and the world's hopeful expectation.

Your honour's in all duty,

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"Thrice fairer than myself," thus she began, "The field's 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, Saith, that the world hath ending with thy life. "Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed,

And rein his proud head to the saddle bow; If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed,

A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know: Here come and sit, where serpent never hisses, And, being set, I'll smother thee with kisses. "And yet not cloy thy lips with loath'd satiety, But rather famish them amid their plenty, Making them red and pale with fresh variety; Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty: A summer's day will seem an hour but short, Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport." With this, she seizeth on his sweating palm,

The precedent of pith and livelihood,
And, trembling in her passion, calls it balm,
Being so enrag'd, desire doth lend her force,
Courageously to pluck him from his horse.
Over one arm the lusty courser's rein,

Earth's sovereign salve to do a goddess good:

Under the other was the tender boy, Who blush'd and pouted in a dull disdain,

With leaden appetite, unapt to toy; She, red and hot, as coals of glowing fire, He red for shame, but frosty in desire. The studded bridle on a ragged bough

Nimbly she fastens, (O how quick is love!) The steed is stalled up, and even now To tie the rider she begins to prove: Backward she push'd him, as she would be thrust, And govern'd him in strength, though not in lust. So soon was she along, as he was down,

Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown, And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips; And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, "If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open."

He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks; Then with her windy sighs, and golden hairs,

To fan and blow them dry again she seeks: He says, she is immodest, blames her 'miss; What follows more, she smothers with a kiss.

Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast,

Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh, aud bone, Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,

Till either gorge be stuff'd, or prey be gone; Even so she kiss'd his brow, the cheek, his chin, And where she ends, she doth anew begin.

Forc'd to content, but never to obey,

Panting he lies, and breathing in her face; She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey,

And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace, Wishing her cheeks were gardeus full of flowers, So they were dew'd with such distilling showers.

Look how a bird lies tangled in a net,

So fasten'd in her arms Adonis lies; Pure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret, Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes: Rain added to a river that is rank, Perforce will force it overflow the bank.

Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,

For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale; Still is he sullen, still he low'rs and frets,

'Twixt crimson shame and anger, ashy-pale; Being red, she loves him best; and, being white, Her best is better'd with a more delight.

Look how he can, she cannot choose but love;
And by her fair immortal hand she swears
From his soft bosom never to remove,

Till he take truce with her contending tears, Which long have rain'd, making her cheeks all wet; And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt.

Upon this promise did he raise his chin,

Like a di-dapper peering through a wave, Who being look'd on, ducks as quickly in; So suffers he to give what she did crave; But when her lips were ready for his pay, He winks, and turns his lips another way.

Never did passenger in summer's heat

More thirst for drink, than she for this good turn. Her help she sees, but help she cannot get ;

She bathes in water, yet in fire must burn: "Oh pity," 'gan she cry," flint-hearted boy; 'T is but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy?

"I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now, Even by the stern and direful god of war, Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow,

Who conquers where he comes, in every jar; Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shall have,

"Over my altars hath he hung his lance,

His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest, And for my sake hath learn'd to sport and dance, To coy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest; Scorning his churlish drum, and ensign red, Making my arms his field, his tent my bed.

"Thus him that over-rul'd, I oversway'd,

Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain:
Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength obey❜d,
Yet was he servile to my coy disdain.

O be not proud, nor brag not of thy might,
For mast'ring her that foil'd the god of fight.

"Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine (Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red) The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine:

What see'st thou in the ground? hold up thy head;
Look in mine eye-balls where thy beauty lies:
Then why not lips on lips, since eyes on eyes?

"Art thou asham'd to kiss? then wink again,
And I will wink, so shall the day seem night;
Love keeps his revels where there be but twain,
Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight:
These blue-vein'd violets whereon we lean,
Never can blab, nor know they what we mean.

"The tender spring upon thy tempting lip
Shows thee unripe; yet may'st thou well be tasted;
Make use of time, let not advantage slip;

Beauty within itself should not be wasted: Fair flowers that are not gather'd in their prime, Rot and consume themselves in little time.

"Were I hard favour'd, foul, or wrinkled old,

Ill natur'd, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, O'erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold,

Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, Then migh'st thou pause, for then I were not for thee;

But having no defects, why dost abhor me?

"Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow;

Mine eyes are grey, and bright, and quick in turnMy beauty as the spring doth yearly grow, [ing;

My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning; My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt, Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt.

"Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear,
Or, like a fairy, trip upon the green,
Or, like a nymph, with long dishevell❜d hair,
Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen :
Love is a spirit all compact of fire,

Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.

"Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie; [me;
These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support
Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky,
From morn till night, even where I list to sport me:
Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be
That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee?

"Is thine own heart to thine own face affected? Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left? Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected,

Steal thine own freedom, and complain of theft. Narcissus so, himself himself forsook, And dy'd to kiss his shadow in the brook.

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here,

'Upon the Earth's increase why should'st thou feed, ] " Fondling," she saith, "since I have hemm'd thee
Unless the Earth with thy increase be fed ?
By law of Nature thou art born to breed,
That thine may live, when thou thyself art dead;
And so in spite of death thou do'st survive,
In that thy likeness still is left alive."

By this, the love-sick queen began to sweat,
For, where they lay, the shadow had forsook them,
And Titan, tired in the mid-day heat,

With burning eye did hotly overlook them;
Wishing Adonis had his team to guide,
So he were like him, and by Venus' side.

And now Adonis, with a lazy spright,

And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye,
His low'ring brows o'erwhelming his fair sight,

Like misty vapours, when they blot the sky, Souring his cheeks, cries, "Fie! no more of love; The Sun doth burn my face; I must remove."

σε

"Ah me," quoth Venus, "young, and so unkind! What bare excuses mak'st thou to be gone! I'll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind

Shall cool the heat of this descending Sun; I'll make a shadow for thee of my hairs; If they burn too, I'll quench them with my tears.

"The Sun that shines from Heaven, shines but warm, And lo, I lie between that Sun and thee; The heat I have from thence doth little harm,

Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me: And were I not immortal, life were done, Between this heavenly and earthly Sun.

"Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel, Nay more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth; Art thou a woman's son, and canst not feel

What 't is to love? how want of love tormenteth? O had thy mother borne so bad a mind, She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind.

"What am I, that thou should'st contemn me thus ?
Or what great danger dwells upon my suit?
What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss?
Speak fair; but speak fair words, or else bemute:
Give me one kiss, I'll give it thee again,
And one for interest, if thou wilt have twain.

"Fie, lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone, Well-painted idol, image, dull and dead, Statue, contenting but the eye alone,

Thing like a man, but of no woman bred; Thou art no man, though of a man's complexion, For men will kiss even by their own direction."

This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue,
And swelling passion doth provoke a pause;
Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong;
Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause:
And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak,
And now her sobs do her intendments break.

Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand, Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground; Sometimes her arms enfold him like a band;

She would, he will not in her arms be bound; And when from thence he struggles to be gone, She locks her lily fingers, one in one.

Within the circuit of this ivory pale, I'll be the park, and thou shalt be my deer; Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale: Graze on my lips; and if those hills be dry, Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie. "Within this limit is relief enough,

Sweet bottom-grass, and high delightful plain, Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, To shelter thee from tempest and from rain; Then be my deer, since I am such a park; No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark." At this Adonis smiles, as in disdain,

That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple : Love made those hollows, if himself were slain, He might be bury'd in a tomb so simple; Foreknowing well, if there he came to je, Why there love liv'd, and there he could not die.

These lovely caves, these round-enchanting pits,

Open'd their mouths to swallow Venus' liking: Being mad before, how doth she now for wits?

Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking? Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn, To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn!

Now which way shall she turn? what shall'she say? Her words are done, her woes the more increasing, The time is spent, her object will away,

And from her twining arms doth urge releasing: "Pity," she cries; "some favour-some remorse—” Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse.

But lo, from forth a copse that neighbours by,
A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud,
Adonis' trampling courser doth espy,

And forth she rushes, snorts, and neighs aloud: The strong-neck'd steed, being tied unto a tree, Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he.

Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds,
And now his woven girts he breaks asunder,
The bearing Earth with his hard hoof he wounds,
Whose hollow womb resounds like Heaven's thun-
The iron bit he crushes 'tween his teeth, [der;
Controlling what he was controlled with.

His ears up prick'd; his braided hanging main
Upon his compass'd crest now stands on end;
His nostrils drink the air, and forth again,

As from a furnace, vapours doth he send :
His eye, which glisters scornfully like fire,
Shows his hot courage and his high desire.

Sometimes he trots as if he told the steps,
With gentle majesty, and modest pride;
Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps,
As who would say, "Lo! thus my strength is
And thus I do to captivate the eye [try'd;
Of the fair breeder that is standing by."

What recketh he his rider's angry stir,
His flattering holla, or his Stand, I say?
What cares he now for curb, or pricking spur?
For rich caparisons, or trappings gay?
He sees his love, and nothing else he sees,
For nothing else with his proud sight agrees.

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