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

Content thyself with thine estate,

Ne wishe for death, nor feare his might."

Fol. 18, b.

[691:A] This writer transcends mediocrity in consequence of the singular purity and harmony of his diction and versification. The subsequent lines, forming the prior part of a sonnet, have the air of being written rather in the 19th than the 16th century:—

"Hard is his hap who never finds content,

But still must dwell with heavy-thoughted sadnesse:

Harder that heart that never will relent,

That may, and will not turne these woes to gladnesse;

Then joies adue, comfort and mirth, farewell;

For I must now exile me from all pleasure,