Of this passage and the question of Shakespeare’s knowledge of the ancients, Theobald, who favoured the view that his acquaintance with classical writings was not inconsiderable, remarks in his preface, “The result of the controversy must certainly, either way, terminate to our author’s honour: how happily he could imitate them, if that point be allowed; or how gloriously he could think like them, without owing anything to imitation.” ELIJAH FENTON, 1711 (1683-1730) Shakespeare, the genius of our isle, whose mind (The universal mirror of mankind) Express’d all images, enrich’d the stage, But sometimes stoop’d to please a barbarous age. When his immortal bays began to grow, Rude was the language, and the humour low: He, like the God of Day, was always bright, But rolling in its course, his orb of light Was sullied, and obscur’d, though soaring high, With spots contracted from the nether sky. But whither is th’ adventurous Muse betray’d? Forgive her rashness, venerable shade! May Spring with purple flowers perfume thy urn; And Avon with his greens thy grave adorn: Be all thy faults, whatever faults there be, Imputed to the times, and not to thee. Some scions shot from this immortal root, Their tops much lower, and less fair the fruit, Jonson the tribute of my verse might claim, Had he not strove to blemish Shakespeare’s name. But, like the radiant twins that gild the sphere, Fletcher and Beaumont next in pomp appear: The first a fruitful vine, in blooming pride, Had been by superfluity destroy’d, But that his friend, judiciously severe, Prun’d the luxuriant boughs with artful care; On various sounding harps the Muses play’d, And sung, and quaff’d their nectar in the shade. Few moderns in the lists with these may stand, For in those days were giants in the land: Suffice it now by lineal right to claim, And bow with filial awe to Shakespeare’s fame; The second honours are a glorious name. Achilles dead, they found no equal lord To wear his armour, and to wield his sword. _An Epistle to Mr. Southerne, from Kent._ January 28, 1710-11. JOHN DENNIS, 1712 (1657-1734) Shakespeare was one of the greatest geniuses that the world e’er saw for the Tragic Stage. Though he lay under greater disadvantages than any of his successors, yet had he greater and more genuine beauties than the best and greatest of them. And what makes the brightest glory of his character, those beauties were entirely his own, and owing to the force of his own nature; whereas his faults were owing to his education, and to the age that he lived in. One may say of him as they did of Homer, that he had none to imitate, and is himself inimitable.