118To the memory of my beloued,
120MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE:
123TO draw no enuy (Shake
speare
) on thy name, 124 Am I thus ample to thy Booke, and Fame: 125While I confesse thy writings to be such, 126 As neither Man,
nor Mu
se,
can praise too much. 127'Tis true, and all mens suffrage. But these wayes 128 Were not the paths I meant vnto thy praise: 129For seeliest Ignorance on these may light, 130 Which, when it sounds at best, but eccho's right;
131Or blinde Affection, which doth ne're aduance 132 The truth, but gropes, and vrgeth all by chance;
133Or crafty Malice, might pretend this praise,
134 And thinke to ruine, where it seem'd to raise.
135These are, as some infamous Baud, or Whore,
136 Should praise a Matron. What could hurt her more?
137But thou art proofe against them, and indeed 138 Aboue th' ill fortune of them, or the need.
139I, therefore will begin. Soule of the Age!
140 The applause! delight! the wonder of our Stage!
141My Shake
speare,
rise; I will not lodge thee by 142 Chaucer,
or Spen
ser,
or bid Beaumont
lye 143A little further, to make thee a roome: 144 Thou art a Moniment, without a tombe,
145And art aliue still, while thy Booke doth liue,
146 And we haue wits to read, and praise to giue.
147That I not mixe thee so, my braine excuses;
148 I meane with great, but disproportion'd Mu
ses:
149For, if I thought my iudgement were of yeeres,
150 I should commit thee surely with thy peeres,
151And tell, how farre thou didstst our Lily
out-shine,
152 Or sporting Kid,
or Marlowes
mighty line.
153And though thou hadst small Latine,
and lesse Greeke,
154 From thence to honour thee, I would not seeke 155For names; but call forth thund'ring AEschilus,
156 Euripides,
and Sophocles
to vs,
157Paccuuius, Accius,
him of Cordoua
dead,
158 To life againe, to heare thy Buskin tread,
159And shake a Stage: Or, when thy Sockes were on,
160 Leaue thee alone, for the comparison Of