SHAKSPERE 5 



argue, that the most capacious mind, the most com- 

 prehensive learning, the most fertile imagination, and 

 the most perfect knowledge of the human heart — its 

 springs, motives, and actions, together with the most 

 masterly design, the most eloquent diction, and the 

 most dignified sentiments that the English language 

 ever expressed were produced by the son of a third-rate 

 tradesman in a small provincial town." 



" Indeed ! Well, I know nothing about that." 



" Neither do I, Mr. B , enough for me that the 



Avritings are the product of our language, and will ever 

 be its pride and boast ; and though ^ Palmam qui meruit 

 ferat ' is a very good motto, I would rather pass it by 

 and forego a controversy that might tend to disturb the 

 wreath on a brow the entire civilized world has combined 

 to honour." 



"I do not exactly understand what you say ; but pray 

 tell me who was the second ? " 



Now, this book-keeper was a respectable tradesman in 

 the town, and had attended this particular coach only, in 

 that capacity, it being originally a subscription-coach 

 and had so remained for many years. 



" Why, my dear sir," I said to him, '' I fear you will 

 not like the second quite so well." I knew my friend to 

 be a strict religionist, of the Wesley an persuasion. " The 

 second who claims this as his natal day," I said, " Mr. 



B , was a writer who, in our days, has been almost 



idolized ; his works have been much admired, and he has 

 obtained extraordinary fame as a poet. It has been 

 objected that some of his poems have rather a loose 

 tendency ; but his was a master-spirit — he possessed a 



