Ben Jonfon with fome warmth; Mr. Hales, who had fat ftill for fome time, told them, That if Mr. Shakspeare had not read the ancients, he had likewife not ftolen any thing from them; and that if he would produce any one topick finely treated by any one of them, he would undertake to fhew fomething upon the fame fubject, at least as well written, by Shakspeare. The latter part of his life was fpent, as all men of good fenfe will wifh theirs may be, in ease, retirement, and the conversation of his friends. He had the good fortune to gather an estate equal to his occafion, and, in that, to his wifh; and is faid to have spent fome years before his death at his native Stratford. He died in the 53d year of his age, leaving three daughters, of which two lived to be married; Judith, the elder, to one Mr. Thomas Quiney, by whom the had three fons, who all died without children; and Sufannah, who was his favourite, to Dr. John Hall, a phyfician of good reputation in that country. She left one child only, a daughter, who was married, first, to Thomas Nafh, Efq. and afterwards to Sir John Bernard of Abbington, but died likewife without iffue. B 2 Α SELECT COLLECTION OF The BEAUTIES of SHAKSPEARE. SWEET ADVERSITY. WEET are the uses of adversity; Which, like the toad, ugly and venemous, As You Like It, A. 2. Sc. I. ANGER. Anger is like A full hot horse, who being allowed his way, Self-mettle tires him.. K. Henry VIII. A. 1. Sc. 2. ART ART AND NATURE. -Nature is made better by no mean, But Nature makes that mean: fo over that Art And make conceive a bark of bafer kind Which does mend Nature, change it rather; but The Art itself is Nature. The Winter's Tale, A. 4. Sc. 3. AUTHORITY. -O, but man! proud man! Dreft in a little brief authority, Moft ignorant of what he's moft afsured, His glafly effence, like an angry ape, Plays fuch fantastic tricks before high heav'n, Would all themselves laugh mortal. Meafure for Measure, A. 2. Sc. 4. -Plate fin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks; King Lear, A. 4. Sc. 6. BEAUTY. BEAUTY. O, the doth teach the torches to burn bright! Romeo and Juliet, A. 1. Sc. 4. BLESSING. Longer than I have time to tell his years! King Henry VIII. A. 2. Sc. 2. COMPASSION. -Mine enemy's dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire. King Lear, A. 4. Sc. 7. CONSCIENCE. What ftronger breast-plate than a heart untainted? Henry VI. Part II. A. 3. Sc. 3. CONTENT. -Verily, I fwear, 'tis better to be lowly born, Henry VIII. A. 2. Sc. 3: COUNSEL. |