[Footnote 3: "And give their fasting horses provender." --_Henry the Fifth_, Act IV., sc. 2.] The bard a tradesman[4]--and a Jew[5]-- The bard a botanist[6]--a beak[7]-- The bard a skilled musician[8] too-- A sheriff[9] and a surgeon[10] eke! Yet critics say (a friendly stock) That, though with all my skill I try, Yet even I can barely mock The glimmer of his wondrous eye! One morning as a work I framed, There passed a person, walking hard; "My gracious goodness," I exclaimed, "How very like my dear old bard! "Oh, what a model he would make!" I rushed outside--impulsive me!-- "Forgive the liberty I take, But you're so very"--"Stop!" said he. "You needn't waste your breath or time,-- I know what you are going to say,-- That you're an artist, and that I'm Remarkably like SHAKESPEARE. Eh? [Footnote 4: "Let us, like merchants, show our foulest wares." --_Troilus and Cressida_, Act I., sc. 3.] [Footnote 5: "Then must the Jew be merciful." --_Merchant of Venice_, Act IV., sc. 1.] [Footnote 6: "The spring, the summer, The childing autumn, angry winter, change Their wonted liveries." --_Midsummer Night's Dream_, Act II., sc. 1.] [Footnote 7: "In the county of Glo'ster, justice of the peace and _coram_." --_Merry Wives of Windsor_, Act I., sc. 1.] [Footnote 8: "What lusty trumpet thus doth summon us?" --_King John_, Act V., sc. 2.] [Footnote 9: "And I'll provide his executioner." --_Henry the Sixth_ (Second Part), Act III., sc. 1.] [Footnote 10: "The lioness had torn some flesh away, Which all this while had bled." --_As You Like It_, Act IV., sc. 3.] "You wish that I would sit to you?" I clasped him madly round the waist, And breathlessly replied, "I do!" "All right," said he, "but please make haste." I led him by his hallowed sleeve, And worked away at him apace, I painted him till dewy eve,-- There never was a nobler face! "Oh, sir," I said, "a fortune grand Is yours, by dint of merest chance,-- To sport _his_ brow at second-hand, To wear _his_ cast-off countenance! "To rub _his_ eyes whene'er they ache-- To wear _his_ baldness ere you're old-- To clean _his_ teeth when you awake-- To blow _his_ nose when you've a cold!" His eyeballs glistened in his eyes-- I sat and watched and smoked my pipe; "Bravo!" I said, "I recognise The phrensy of your prototype!" His scanty hair he wildly tore: "That's right," said I, "it shows your breed." He danced--he stamped--he wildly swore-- "Bless me, that's very fine indeed!" "Sir," said the grand Shakespearian boy (Continuing to blaze away), "You think my face a source of joy; That shows you know not what you say.