_Shakspeare and George Herbert._--Your correspondent D.S. (Vol. ii., p.
263.) has pointed out two illustrations to Shakspeare in George
Herbert's poems. The _parallel passages_ between the two poets are
exceedingly numerous. There are one or two which occur to me on the
instant:--
_The Church Porch_:
"In time of service, seal up both thine eyes,
And send them to thy heart; that, spying sin,
They may weep out the stains, by them did rise."
Cf. _Hamlet_, III. 4.:
"O Hamlet, speak no more;
Thou turnst mine eyes into my very soul,
And there I see such black and grained spots
As will not leave their tinct."
* * * * *
_Gratefulness_:
"Thou, that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart."
Cf. _Second Pt. Henry Sixth_, I. i.:
"O Lord, that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness;
For Thou hast given me, in this beauteous face,
A world of earthly blessings to my soul."
* * * * *
_The Answer_:
"All the thoughts and ends
Which my fierce youth did bandy, fall and flow
Like leaves about me, or like summer friends,
Flies of estate and sunshine."
Cf. _Troil. and Cressida_, III. S.:
"Men, like butterflies,
Show not their mealy wings but to the summer;
And not a man, for being simply man,
Hath any honour."
Also, _Third Pt. Henry Sixth_, II. 6.:
"The common people swarm like summer flies,
And whither fly the gnats, but to the sun?
And who shines now, but Henry's enemies?"