Now this inventory of perfections shows great knowledge of the
horse; and is good matter-of-fact poetry. Let the reader but compare
it with a speech in the MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM where Theseus
describes his hounds--
And their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew--
and he will perceive at once what we mean by the difference between
Shakespeare's own poetry, and that of his plays. We prefer the
PASSIONATE PILGRIM very much to the LOVER'S COMPLAINT. It has been
doubted whether the latter poem is Shakespeare's.
Of the Sonnets we do not well know what to say. The subject of them
seems to be somewhat equivocal; but many of them are highly
beautiful in themselves, and interesting as they relate to the state
of the personal feelings of the author. The following are some of
the most striking:
CONSTANCY
Let those who are in favour with their stars
Of public honour and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,
Unlook'd for joy in that I honour most.
Great princes' favourites their fair leaves spread,
But as the marigold in the sun's eye;
And in themselves their pride lies buried,
For at a frown they in their glory die.
The painful warrior famous'd for fight,
After a thousand victories once foil'd,
Is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toil'd:
Then happy I, that love and am belov'd,
Where I may not remove, nor be removed.
Pages:
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353