Sociable Letters 287 



took the bare designs, the wit and language being 

 all his own; and so much he had above others, that 

 those who writ after him, were forced to borrow of 

 him, or rather to steal from him; I could mention 

 divers places, that others of our famous poets have 

 borrowed, or stolen, but lest I should discover the 

 persons, I will not mention the places, or parts, but 

 leave it to those that read his playes, and others, to 

 find them out. I should not have needed to write 

 this to you, for his works would have declared the 

 same truth : but I believe, those that dispraised his 

 playes, dispraised them more out of envy, than 

 simplicity or ignorance, for those that could read his 

 playes, could not be so foolish to condemn them, only 

 the excellency of them caused an envy to them. By 

 this we may perceive, envy doth not leave a man in 

 the grave, it follows him after death, unless a man be 

 buried in oblivion, but if he leave anything to be 

 remembered, envy and malice will be still throwing 

 aspersion upon it, or striving to pull it down by detrac- 

 tion. But leaving Shakespear's works to their own 

 defence, and his detractors to their envy, and you to 

 your better implo3mients, than reading my letter, 



I rest. Madam, 

 Your faithful friend and humble servant. 



ON HER SINGING 



Sweet Madam Eleonora Duarti,— The last week 

 your sister Katherine and your sister Frances were 

 to visit me, and so well pleased I was with their neigh- 

 bourly, and friendly visit, as their good company put 

 me into a frolick humour, and for a pastime I sung 

 to them some pieces of old ballads; whereupon they 



