William Shakespeare. 1564-1616, was born at Stratford-upon-Avon. By many
(perhaps most) critics, Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest poet the
world has ever produced; one calls him, "The most illustrious of the sons
of men." And yet it is a curious fact that less is really known of his
life and personal characteristics than is known of almost any other famous
name in history. Over one hundred years ago, a writer said, "All that is
known with any degree of certainty concerning Shakespeare is--that he was
born at Stratford-upon-Avon--married and had children there--went to
London, where he commenced acting, and wrote poems and plays--returned to
Stratford, made his will, died, and was buried." All the research of the
last one hundred years has added but very little to this meager record. He
was married, very young, to Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years his senior;
was joint proprietor of Blackfriar's Theater in 1589, and seems to have
accumulated property, and retired three or four years before his death. He
was buried in Stratford Church, where a monument has been erected to his
memory; he also has a monument, in "Poet's Corner" of Westminster Abbey.
His family soon became extinct. From all we can learn, he seems to have
been highly respected and esteemed by his cotemporaries.
His works consist chiefly of plays and sonnets. His writings show an
astonishing knowledge of human nature, expressed in language wonderful for
its point and beauty. His style is chaste and pure, judged by the standard
of his times, although expressions may sometimes be found that would not
be considered proper in a modern writer. It has been argued by some that
Shakespeare did not write the works imputed to him; but this theory seems
to have little to support it. This extract is from King Henry V., Act III,
Scene I.
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Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there 's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favored rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'er hang and jutty his confounded base,
Swilled with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit
To its full height! On, on, you noblest English,
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war proof!
Fathers, that, like so many Alexanders,
Have, in these parts, from morn till even, fought,
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument;
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war.
And you, good yeomen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding, which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble luster in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and, upon this charge,
Cry--"God for Harry, England, and St. George!"
NOTES.--Henry V. (1388-1422) was king of England for nine years. During
this reign almost continuous war raged in France, to the throne of which
Henry laid claim. The battle of Agincourt took place in his reign.
Fet is the old form of fetched.
Alexanders.--Alexander the Great (356-323 B. G) was king of Macedonia, and
the celebrated conqueror of Persia, India, and the greater part of the
world as then known.