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"The mind of Shakspeare was as a magic mirror, in which all human nature's possible forms and combinations were present, intuitively and inherently-not conceived_but as connatural portions of his own humanity."

Quarterly Review.

I set you up a glass,

Where you may see the inmost part of you.

36---iii. 4.

NOBLE CHARACTERS,

ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE VIRTUES AND

ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

1

It much repairs me

To talk of your good father: In his youth
He had the wit, which I can well observe
To-day in our young lords; but they may jest,
Till their own scorn return to them unnoted,
Ere they can hide their levity in honour.
So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,
His equal had awaked them; and his honour
Clock to itself, knew the true minute, when
Exception bid him speak, and, at this time,
His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him,
He used as creatures of another place;

And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,
Making them proud of his humility,

In their poor praise he humbled: Such a man
Might be a copy to these younger times;

Which follow'd well, would demonstrate them now
But goers backward.

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His plausive words He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,

*

To grow there, and to bear,—Let me not live,—
Thus his good melancholy oft began,

On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
When it was out,-let me not live, quoth he,
After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff

To repair, signifies to renovate.

Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses
All but new things disdain; whose judgments are
Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
Expire before their fashions.

2

11-i. 2.

A son, who is the theme of honour's tongue;
Amongst a grove, the very straightest plant;
Who is sweet fortune's minion, and her pride.

3

He is gracious, if he be observed;©
He hath a tear for pity and a hand
Open as day for melting charity;

18-. il.

Yet notwithstanding, being incensed, he's flint;
As humorous as winter, and as sudden
As flaws congealed in the spring of day.
His temper, therefore, must be well observed;
Chide him for faults, and do it reverently,
When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth:
But, being moody, give him line and scope;
Till that his passions, like a whale on ground,
Confound themselves with working.

4

19-iv. 4.

Never a man's thought in the world keeps the road-way better than thine.

5

The tide of blood in me

19-ii. 2.

Hath proudly flow'd in vanity, till now:
Now doth it turn, and ebb back to the sea;
Where it shall mingle with the state of floods,
And flow henceforth in formal majesty.

6

19-v. 2.

I have spirit to do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit.

7

This fellow 's. of exceeding honesty,

b Perhaps feathers.

5-iii. 1.

c Has an attention shewn him.

d He abounds in capricious fancies, as winter abounds in moisture.

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,

Of human dealings.

8

37-iii. 3.

I suppose him virtuous, know him noble,
Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth;
In voices well-divulged, free, learn'd, and valiant,
And, in dimension, and the shape of nature,

A gracious person.

e

9

4-i. 5.

Your desert speaks loud, and I should wrong it,
To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,

When it deserves with characters of brass

A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion.

10

The man is noble, and his fame folds in

This orb o' the earth.

11

There is a kind of character in thy life,

That, to the observer, doth thy history

5-v. 1.

28-v. 5.

Fully unfold.

5-i. 1.

12

Thou had'st rather

Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,

Than flatter him in a bower.

28-iii. 2.

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He's gentle; never school'd, and yet learned; full of noble device; of all sorts enchantingly beloved. 10-i. 1.

15

He is precise;

Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses,

e Well spoken of by the world.

Of all ranks.

On his defence.

That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone.

16

5-i. 4.

My blood hath been too cold and temperate,
Unapt to stir at these indignities,
And you have found me; for, accordingly,
You tread upon my patience; but, be sure,
I will from henceforth rather be myself,
Mighty, and to be fear'd, than my condition;h
Which hath been smooth as oil, soft as young down,
And therefore lost that title of respect,

Which the proud soul ne'er pays, but to the proud.

17

He doth rely on none;

But carries on the stream of his dispose,
Without observance or respect of any,
In will peculiar and in self-admission.

18

18-i. 3.

26-ii. 3.

I have of late (but, wherefore, I know not), lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises: and, indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition, that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a steril promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me, than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. 36-ii. 2.

19

My love doth so approve him,

That even his stubbornness, his checks, and frowns, Have grace and favour in them.

20

Whose nature is so far from doing harms,

That he suspects none.

21

37-iv, 3.

His years but young, but his experience old;
His head unmellow'd, but his judgment ripe;

h Disposition.

34-i. 2.

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