"
SIR THOMAS.
"I am not of that mind.
"Their eyes, mayhap, fell upon some of the bravery cast ashore from
the Spanish Armada. In ancienter days, a few pages of good poetry
outvalued a whole ell of the finest Genoa."
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"When will such days return?"
SIR THOMAS.
"It is only within these few years that corruption and avarice have
made such ghastly strides. They always did exist, but were gentler.
"My youth is waning, and has been nigh upon these seven years, I
being now in my forty-eighth."
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"I have understood that the god of poetry is in the enjoyment of
eternal youth; I was ignorant that his sons were."
SIR THOMAS.
"No, child! we are hale and comely, but must go the way of all
flesh."
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"Must it, can it, be?"
SIR THOMAS.
"Time was, my smallest gifts were acceptable, as thus recorded:-
"From my fair hand, O will ye, will ye
Deign humbly to accept a gilly-
Flower for thy bosom, sugared maid!
"Scarce had I said it ere she took it,
And in a twinkling, faith! had stuck it,
Where e'en proud knighthood might have laid."
William was now quite unable to contain himself, and seemed utterly
to have forgotten the grievous charge against him; to such a pitch
did his joy o'erleap his jeopardy.
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