Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 1 of 2] / Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his age

by Nathan Drake

Yea, and furr'd moss besides, when flowers are none,

To winter-ground thy corse."[395:C]

These interesting pictures of the red-breast would alone be sufficient to create an affectionate feeling for him; the attachment however has been ever since kept alive by delineations of a similar kind. In our author's time Drayton, Webster, and Dekker, have all alluded to this pleasing tradition: the first in his Owl 1604—

"Cov'ring with moss the deads unclosed eye,

The little red-breast teacheth charitie;"[395:D]

the second in his Tragedy, called The White Devil, or Vittoria Corombona, 1612—

"Call for the robin red-breast and the wren,

Since o'er shady groves they hover,

And with leaves and flowers do cover