In a conversation between Sir John Suckling, Sir William D’Avenant, Endymion Porter, Mr. Hales of Eton, and Ben Jonson, Sir John Suckling, who was a professed admirer of Shakespeare, had undertaken his defence against Ben Jonson with some warmth. Mr. Hales, who had sat still for some time, hearing Ben frequently reproaching him with the want of learning, and ignorance of the ancients, told him at last, “That if Mr. Shakespeare had not read the ancients, he had likewise not stolen anything from ’em

Some Account of the Life of Mr. William Shakespeare, prefixed to the edition of his Works by Nicholas Rowe, 1709, vol. i. p. xiv.

SIR WILLIAM D’AVENANT, 1637
(1606-1668)

“Ode. In Remembrance of Master William Shakespeare.”

1

Beware (delighted Poets!) when you sing

To welcome Nature in the early Spring;

Your num’rous feet not tread

The Banks of Avon; for each flower