A Book of English Literature

Through swords, through seas, whither she | But thou art proof against them, and, in

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To draw no envy, Shakespeare, on thy For names, but call forth thundering

Triumph, my Britain, thou hast one to

show

To whom all scenes of Europe homage owe.
He was not of an age, but for all time!
And all the Muses still were in their prime,
When, like Apollo, he came forth to warm
Our ears, or like a Mercury to charm.
Nature herself was proud of his designs
And joyed to wear the dressing of his lines,
Which were so richly spun, and woven so fit,
As, since, she will vouchsafe no other wit:
The merry Greek, tart Aristophanes,
Neat Terence, witty Plautus, now not
please,

But antiquated and deserted lie,
As they were not of Nature's family.
Yet must I not give Nature all; thy art, 55
My gentle Shakespeare, must enjoy a part:
For though the poet's matter nature be,
His art doth give the fashion; and that he1
Who casts to write a living line must
sweat,

(Such as thine are) and strike the second heat

Upon the Muses' anvil, turn the same
(And himself with it) that he thinks to
frame,

Or, for the laurel, he may gain a scorn;
For a good poet's made, as well as born.
And such wert thou; look how the father's
face

Lives in his issue, even so the race

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,

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
Sweet Swan of Avon! what a sight it were
To see thee in our waters yet appear,
And make those flights upon the banks of
Thames,

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!
They have repented;

And have sought, to give new birth,
In baths to steep him;
But being so much too good for earth,
Heaven vows to keep him.

JOHN DONNE (1573-1631)

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.

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And bid her quickly don her shroud.
Much you
had of land and rent,-
Your length in clay's now competent;
A long war disturbed your mind,-

Care-charming Sleep, thou easer of all Here your perfect peace is signed.

Call for the robin-redbreast and the wren,
Since o'er shady groves they hover,
And with leaves and flowers do cover
The friendless bodies of unburied men.
Call unto his funeral dole

The ant, the field-mouse, and the mole, To rear him hillocks that shall keep him

Of what is't fools make such vain keeping?
Sin their conception, their birth weeping, 10
Their life a general mist of error,
Their death a hideous storm of terror.
Strew your hair with powders sweet,
Don clean linen, bathe your feet,
And the foul fiend more to check-
"Tis now full tide 'tween night and day;
End your groan, and come away.

A crucifix let bless

your neck.

WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643?)

ON THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF
PEMBROKE

Underneath this sable herse3
Lies the subject of all verse:

Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother:
Death, ere thou hast slain another
Fair and learn'd and good as she,
Time shall throw a dart at thee.

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,

1 cup's.

2 plover.

3 tomb.

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A Book of English Literature, Volumen1