[WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1564, and was educated at the free school of that town; afterwards, he was placed in the office of an attorney. At eighteen years of age he married the daughter of a farmer, and soon after was obliged to leave his native place, for reasons which have been differently related. It is said that when he arrived in London, he obtained a living by holding horses during the performances in the theatre at Southwark; but this has been very reasonably questioned. He soon, however, became an actor, wrote his celebrated plays, and often performed the part of the ghost in his own "Hamlet." His extraordinary talents soon rendered him eminent; he was a favourite both with Elizabeth and James I., and his prudence enabled him to accumulate considerable property, with which he retired to the place of his birth, where he purchased a house and estate which he called "New-place," and which, by the munificence of a few individuals, has lately become the property of the nation. Having enjoyed his retirement four years, he died on his birthday in 1616, and was buried in the church at Stratford; a monument was erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey in 1741, the expense of which

was defrayed by two benefits, one at Drury Lane Theatre and the other at Covent Garden,

The amount of learning possessed by Shakspeare has been a subject of great controversy. That he was well versed in history, and was not unacquainted with classical subjects, is evident from his plays. But while his genius was such that, however he acquired it, his mind was stored with knowledge, his fame rests immovably on his acquaintance with the human heart, and the mastery he exercised over its passions and its weaknesses. His apparent indifference to the judgment of future times caused him to neglect the means required to preserve and authenticate his productions before his death, and hence many attempts have been made to ascribe to him what he never wrote, and even, in some instances, that which would have been utterly unworthy of him. But the imposture was generally discovered without difficulty.]

SOME glory in their birth, some in their skill,

Some in their wealth, some in their body's force; Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill; Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse; And every humour hath its adjunct pleasure, Wherein it finds a joy above the rest; But these particulars are not my measure, All these I better in one general best. Thy love is better than high birth to me, Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost, Of more delight than hawks or horses be; And having thee, of all men's pride I boast. Wretched in this alone, that thou may'st take All this away, and me most wretched make.

BLOW, BLOW, THOU WINTER WIND.

LOW, blow, thou winter wind,

BLOW,

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.

Heigh, oh! sing heigh, oh! unto the green holly: Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly. Then heigh, ho, the holly!

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,

That dost not bite so nigh

As benefits forgot!
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend remember'd not.
Heigh, ho! &c. &c.

WHERE THE BEE SUCKS.

WHERE the bee sucks, there suck I;

In a cowslip's bell I lie;

There I couch when owls do cry,
On the bat's back I do fly,.

After summer, merrily:

Merrily, merrily, shall I live now,

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.

LAWN, as white as driven snow;

Cypress, black as e'er was crow;
Gloves, as sweet as damask roses;
Masks for faces, and for noses;
Bugle bracelet, necklace-amber,
Perfume for a lady's chamber:

Golden quoifs and stomachers,

For my lads to give their dears!

Pins and poking-sticks of steel,

What maids lack from head to heel:

Come, buy of me, come; come buy, come buy: Buy, lads, or else your lasses cry.