The English Poets; Selections Volume 2 (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Then take in hand thy lyre; Strike in thy proper strain; With Japhet's line l aspire Sol's chariot, for new fire To give the world again: Who aided him, will thee, the issue of Jove's brain. And, since our dainty age Cannot endure reproof, Make not thyself a page To that strumpet the stage; But sing high and aloof, Safe from the wolf's black jaw, and the dull ass's hoof. To The Memory Of My Beloved Master William Shakspeare, And What He Hath Left us. [Printed by Gifford in Underwoods, but really from the First Folio edition of Shakspeare, 1623.] To draw no envy, Shakspeare, on thy name, Am I thus ample to thy book and fame; While I confess thy writings to be such, As neither Man nor Muse can praise too much. 'Tis true, and all men's suffrage. But these ways Were not the paths I meant unto thy praise; For seeliest ignorance on these may light, Which, when it sounds at best, but echr" Or blind affection, which doth ne'e1- The truth, but gropes, and ur, ..' Or crafty malice might: . And think to ruin " ' These are, as '.- -0, Should pra .iurt heif But thou an. and, indeed, Above the ill ..n, or the need. i, m'i lirn: son of lapetus. I therefore will begin: Soul of the age ! The applause;- delight, the wonder of our stage! My Shakspeare, rise! I will not lodge thee by Chaucer, or Spenser, or bid Beaumont lie- A little further, to make thee a room1: Thou prt a monument without ? tnmh, r And art alive still while thy book doth live, And we have wits to read, and praise to give. That I not mix thee so my brain excuses, ? I mean with great, but disproportioned Muses; For if I thought my judgment were of years, I should commit thee surely with thy peers, And tell...