Shakesp. in his play of Rich. III. follows More's Hist. of that reign, and therefore could not but see this passage.
[741] But it had this name long before; being so called from its being a common Sewer (vulgarly Shore) or drain. See Stow.
[Weever states that it was named from the Lord of the Manor. Sir John de Sordig was Ambassador from Edward III. to the Pope, to remonstrate with his Holiness on his claim to present foreigners to English livings.]
XXVII.
CORYDON'S DOLEFUL KNELL.
This little simple elegy is given, with some corrections, from two copies, one of which is in The golden garland of princely delights.
The burthen of the song, Ding Dong, &c. is at present appropriated to burlesque subjects, and therefore may excite only ludicrous ideas in a modern reader; but in the time of our poet it usually accompanied the most solemn and mournful strains. Of this kind is that fine aërial Dirge in Shakespear's Tempest:
"Full fadom five thy father lies,
Of his bones are corrall made;
Those are pearles that were his eyes;
Nothing of him, that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange:
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell,
Harke now I heare them, Ding dong bell."
"Burthen, Ding Dong."
I make no doubt but the poet intended to conclude the above air in a manner the most solemn and expressive of melancholy.