Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 2 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

"Preco diei jam sonat,

Noctis profundæ pervigil;

Nocturna lux viantibus,

A nocte noctem segregans.

Hoc excitatus Lucifer,

Solvit polum caligine;

Hoc omnis errorum chorus

Viam nocendi deserit.

Gallo canente spes redit, &c."[415:B]

"The epithets extravagant and erring," he adds, "are highly poetical and appropriate, and seem to prove that Shakspeare was not altogether ignorant of the Latin language."[415:C]