For a good poet's made, as well as born,
And such wast thou! Look how the father's face
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For a good poet's made, as well as born,
And such wast thou! Look how the father's face
Lives in his issue; even so the race
Of Shakespeare's mind and manner brightly shine
In his well-turned and true-filed lines;
In each of which he seems to shake a lance,
As brandished at the eyes of ignorance.

A harmless necessary cat. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

A harmless necessary cat. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.

He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat. -Much Ado about Nothing. Act i. Sc. 1.

He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat. -Much Ado about Nothing. Act i. Sc. 1.

I would that I were low laid in my grave: I am not worth this coil that 's made for read more

I would that I were low laid in my grave: I am not worth this coil that 's made for me. -King John. Act ii. Sc. 1.

A plague of sighing and grief! It blows a man up like a bladder. -King Henry IV. Part I. Act read more

A plague of sighing and grief! It blows a man up like a bladder. -King Henry IV. Part I. Act ii. Sc. 4.

For aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never read more

For aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth. -A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act i. Sc. 1.

Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man. -King John. Act iii. read more

Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man. -King John. Act iii. Sc. 4.

Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down. -King Richard III. Act iii. read more

Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down. -King Richard III. Act iii. Sc. 4.

I would to God thou and I knew where a commodity of good names were to be bought. -King Henry read more

I would to God thou and I knew where a commodity of good names were to be bought. -King Henry IV. Part I. Act i. Sc. 2.