¶To the memory of my beloued,
120MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE:
¶TO draw no enuy (Shake
speare
) on thy name,
¶_Am I thus ample to thy Booke, and Fame:
125While I confesse thy writings to be such,
¶_As neither Man,
nor Mu
se,
can praise too much.
¶'Tis true, and all mens suffrage. But these wayes
¶_Were not the paths I meant vnto thy praise:
¶For seeliest Ignorance on these may light,
130_Which, when it sounds at best, but eccho's right;
¶Or blinde Affection, which doth ne're aduance
¶_The truth, but gropes, and vrgeth all by chance;
¶Or crafty Malice, might pretend this praise,
¶_And thinke to ruine, where it seem'd to raise.
135These are, as some infamous Baud, or Whore,
¶_Should praise a Matron. What could hurt her more?
¶But thou art proofe against them, and indeed
¶_Aboue th' ill fortune of them, or the need.
¶I, therefore will begin. Soule of the Age!
140_The applause! delight! the wonder of our Stage!
¶My Shake
speare,
rise; I will not lodge thee by
¶_Chaucer,
or Spen
ser,
or bid Beaumont
lye
¶A little further, to make thee a roome:
¶_Thou art a Moniment, without a tombe,
145And art aliue still, while thy Booke doth liue,
¶_And we haue wits to read, and praise to giue.
¶That I not mixe thee so, my braine excuses;
¶_I meane with great, but disproportion'd Mu
ses:
¶For, if I thought my iudgement were of yeeres,
150_I should commit thee surely with thy peeres,
¶And tell, how farre thou didstst our Lily
out-shine,
¶_Or sporting Kid,
or Marlowes
mighty line.
¶And though thou hadst small Latine,
and lesse Greeke,
¶_From thence to honour thee, I would not seeke
155For names; but call forth thund'ring Æ
schilus,
¶_Euripides,
and Sophocles
to vs,
¶Paccuuius, Accius,
him of Cordoua
dead,
¶_To life againe, to heare thy Buskin tread,
¶And shake a Stage: Or, when thy Sockes were on,
160_Leaue thee alone, for the comparison
