In a conversation between Sir John Suckling, Sir William D’Avenant, Endymion Porter, Mr. Hales of Eton, and Ben Jonson, Sir John Suckling, who was a professed admirer of Shakespeare, had undertaken his defence against Ben Jonson with some warmth. Mr. Hales, who had sat still for some time, hearing Ben frequently reproaching him with the want of learning, and ignorance of the ancients, told him at last, “That if Mr. Shakespeare had not read the ancients, he had likewise not stolen anything from ’em [a fault the other made no conscience of]; and that if he would produce any one topic finely treated by any of them, he would undertake to show something upon the same subject at least as well written by Shakespeare.” Some Account of the Life of Mr. William Shakespeare, prefixed to the edition of his _Works_ by Nicholas Rowe, 1709, vol. i. p. xiv. SIR WILLIAM D’AVENANT, 1637 (1606-1668) “_Ode. In Remembrance of Master William Shakespeare._” 1 Beware (delighted Poets!) when you sing To welcome Nature in the early Spring; Your num’rous feet not tread The Banks of Avon; for each flower (As it ne’er knew a sun or shower) Hangs there the pensive head. 2 Each tree whose thick and spreading growth hath made Rather a night beneath the boughs, than shade (Unwilling now to grow), Looks like the plume a captive wears Whose rifled falls are steept i’ th’ tears Which from his last rage flow. 3 The piteous river wept itself away Long since (alas!) to such a swift decay; That reach the map; and look If you a river there can spy; And for a river your mock’d eye Will find a shallow brook. _Madagascar, with other Poems._ 1638, p. 37. Printed 1637. ANONYMOUS, ABOUT 1637 “_An Elegie on the Death of that famous Writer and Actor, Mr. William Shakspeare._”