WILLIAM SHAKSPERE.
BORN, 1564; DIED, 1616.

Principal Works.-Tragedies, Comedies, Sonnets,
Miscellaneous Works.

MERCY.

THE quality of mercy is not strained
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,

It is enthronéd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this—
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

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WILLIAM SHAKSPERE.

DOVER CLIFFS.

How fearful

And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!
The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air,
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half-way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire-dreadful trade!
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yon tall anchoring bark,
Diminished to her boat; her boat, a buoy,
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge,
That on the unnumbered idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high :-I'll look no more,
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.

INGRATITUDE.

BLOW, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;

Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,

Although thy breath be rude.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot;
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend remembered not.

WILLIAM SHAKSPERE.

WOLSEY'S CHARACTER.

THIS Cardinal,

Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly

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Was fashioned to much honour from his cradle.
He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one;
Exceeding wise, fair spoken, and persuading;
Lofty and sour to them that loved him not,
But, to those men that sought him, sweet as summer.
And, though he were unsatisfied in getting,
(Which was a sin,) yet in bestowing, madam,
He was most princely: ever witness for him
Those twins of learning that he raised in you,
Ipswich and Oxford! one of which fell with him,
Unwilling to out-live the good that did it;
The other, though unfinished, yet so famous,
So excellent in art, and still so rising,
That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue.
His overthrow heaped happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little;
And, to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he died fearing God.

ADVERSITY.

SWEET are the uses of adversity,

Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,

Wears yet a precious jewel in his head:

And this our life, exempt from public haunt,

Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.

GOOD HUMOUR.

Of all the qualifications of the mind, that are not positive virtues, I know none more desirable than good humour. No quality can render the possessor more easy and happy in himself, or recommend him more forcibly to others. From it, virtue herself receives additional lustre, and takes her most ravishing graces.

It is not saying too much in favour of this quality to assert, that it is one of the first requisites in society; for though strict honour and integrity are of more real value in the grander purposes of life, yet good humour, like small money, is of more immediate use in the common commerce of the world. There is no situation in life, in which it would not contribute to mitigate disappointment, or to heighten enjoyment.

Good humour is the fair weather of the mind, which calms the turbulent gusts of passion, and diffuses a delightful serenity over the heart. We feel attached even to animals that betray a softness of disposition. Montaigne could discover agreeable music in the good-humoured purring of his cat; and with all the attention that is paid to the shape, colour, and eyes of the horse, good temper is his strongest recommendation.

He, then, that finds himself inclined to break out into sudden bursts of fretfulness and ill-humour, should be more upon his guard to repress the storm

in his mind, than to fence against the most inclement season, especially remembering, that the torrent of anger being once unrestrained, soon becomes irresistible, and that the pleasing quality here recommended, is generally lost imperceptibly. The thought of interest too frequently proves a growing canker in the mind; and the troubles and embarrassments attendant upon worldly pursuits, insensibly sour the temper, and destroy the cheerfulness and good humour which usually prevail in the undesigning season of youth.

I cannot conceive a more disagreeable companion than a man who has permitted his misfortunes to embitter his disposition. Such a man overflows with gall. He disturbs the peace of the family to which he belongs, and poisons the happiness of every company to which he is admitted. How much more worthy of imitation is he who meets the stroke of adversity with an even temper, who suffers neither reproach nor distress to ruffle his good humour!

The character of Sir Thomas More was in nothing more amiable than in the true pleasantry and good humour displayed by him under every occurrence. When Lord Chancellor, it was usual, as he went from church, for some of his officers to attend on his lady, and acquaint her of his departure; but the Sunday after his resignation he went himself to her pew, and bowing gently, said, “Madam, my lord is gone." His cheerful behaviour on the scaffold, and in every particular relative to his death, is familiar to all. "It is," said he, "a sharp but sure remedy for all disorders."