...Mercury to charm, Nature herself was proud of his designs, And joy'd to wear the dressing of his lines; Which were so richly spun and woven so fit, As, since,...Plautus, now not please; But antiquated and deserted he, As they were not of Nature's family. Yet must I not give Nature all; thy art My gentle Shakspeare...

...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,...nature be, His art doth give the fashion ; and, that he Who casts to write a living line, must sweat (Such as thine are) and strike the second heat Upon...

...lie A little nearer Spenser, to make room For Shakespear in your threefold, fourfold tomb.* 1 Seneca. Which were so richly spun, and woven so fit, As, since,...nature be, His art doth give the fashion ; and that he 1 Who casts to write a living line, must sweat (Such as thine are) and strike the second heat Upon...

...since, she will vouchsafe no otber wit. The merry Greek, tart Aristophanes, Neat Terence, witty PJautns now not please; But antiquated and deserted lie, As...nature all ; thy art, My gentle Shakspeare, must enjoy u. part. For though the poet's matter nature be, His art doth give the fashion ; and, that he Who casts...

...Mercury to charm. Nature herself was proud of his designs, And joy'd to wear the dressing of his lines ; Which were so richly spun, and woven so fit, As since...no other wit : The merry Greek, tart Aristophanes, Betwixt this day and that, by fate be slain, For whom your curtains may be drawn again. But if precedency...

...fashioned. Better than common wonderers, Jonson feels he cannot give Nature more than her due;. art must enjoy a part. *• ' " For though the poet's...nature be, ' His art doth give the fashion; and that he ' Who casts to write a living line, must sweat,—. Such as thine are,—and strike the second heat...

...they were not of Nature's family. — Yet must I not give Nature all ; thy art, My gentle Shakespeare, must enjoy a part : For, though the poet's matter...Nature be, His art doth give the fashion ; and that he Who casts to write a living line must sweat, — Such as thine are, — and strike the second heat...

...Mercury, to charm ! Nature herself was proud of his designs, And joy'd to wear the dressing of his lines ! Which were so richly spun, and woven so fit, As, since,...nature be, His art doth give the fashion ; and, that he Who casts to write a living line, must sweat (Such as thine are) and strike the second heat Upon...

...their prime, Nature herself was proud of his designs, And joy'd to wear the dressing of his lines: mad Shakespeare, must enjoy a part : For though the poet's matter nature he, His art doth give the fashion...

...Mercury to charm. Nature herself was proud of his designs, And joy'd to wear the dressing of his lines ; Which were so richly spun, and woven so fit, As since...no other wit : The merry Greek, tart Aristophanes, Betwixt this day and that, by fate be slain, For whom your curtains may be drawn again. But if precedency...