Through swords, through seas, whither she | But thou art proof against them, and, in To draw no envy, Shakespeare, on thy For names, but call forth thundering Triumph, my Britain, thou hast one to show 46 To whom all scenes of Europe homage owe. 51 But antiquated and deserted lie, (Such as thine are) and strike the second heat 60 Upon the Muses' anvil, turn the same Or, for the laurel, he may gain a scorn; Lives in his issue, even so the race 65 And did act, what now we moan, Of Shakespeare's mind and manners brightly shines In his well turnèd and true filèd3 lines, Old men so duly, 5 ΙΟ As, sooth, the Parcae thought him one, He played so truly. In each of which he seems to shake a lance, So, by error, to his fate As brandished at the eyes of ignorance. 70 75 That so did take1 Eliza and our James! But stay, I see thee in the hemisphere Advanced, and made a constellation there! Shine forth, thou Star of poets, and with They all consented, But viewing him since, alas, too late! And have sought, to give new birth, JOHN DONNE (1573-1631) 15 20 GO AND CATCH A FALLING STAR Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the Devil's foot; 2 plans. 3 polished. Queen Elizabeth. And bid her quickly don her shroud. Care-charming Sleep, thou easer of all Here your perfect peace is signed. Call for the robin-redbreast and the wren, 5 IO 5 The ant, the field-mouse, and the mole, To rear him hillocks that shall keep him 5 Of what is't fools make such vain keeping? A crucifix let bless your neck. WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643?) 15 ON THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF Underneath this sable herse3 Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother: ELIZABETHAN PROSE SIR THOMAS NORTH (1535?-1601?) THE DEATH OF CÆSAR From THE LIFE OF JULIUS CÆSAR The Romans inclining to Cæsar's prosperity, and taking the bit in the mouth, supposing that to be ruled by one man alone, it would be a good mean for them to take breath a little, after so many troubles and miseries as they had abidden in these civil wars, they chose him perpetual Dictator. This was a plain tyranny: for to this absolute power of Dictator they added this, never to be [10 afraid to be deposed. Cicero propounded For with his nails he'll dig them up again. before the Senate that they should give warm, And, when gay tombs are robbed, sustain no harm; But keep the wolf far thence, that's foe to men, 9 1 cup's. 2 plover. 3 tomb. |