XII. TAKE THOSE LIPS AWAY. The firft ftanza of this little fonnet, which an eminent critict justly admires for its extreme fweetness, is found in Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE, A. 4. Sc. 1 Both the ftanzas are preferved in Beaum. and Fletcher's BLOODY BROTHER, A. 5. Sc. 2. Sewel and Gildon have printed it among Shakespeare's fmaller Poems, but they have done the fame by twenty other pieces that were never writ by him; their book being a wretched heap of inaccuracies and mistakes. It is not found in Jaggard's old edition of Shakespear's SonNETS reprinted by Lintot. T AKE, oh take thofe lips away, That so sweetlye were forfworne; Hide, oh hide thofe hills of fnowe, Which thy frozen bofom beares, On whofe tops the pinkes that growe, Are of thofe that April wears: ↑ Bp. Warb. in his Shakesp. 5 10 XIII. KING XIII. KING LEIR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS. The Reader has here an ancient ballad on the Subject of KING LEAR, which (as a fenfible female critic has well obferved +) bears fo exact an analogy to the argument of ShakeSpeare's play, that his having copied it could not be doubted, if it were certain, that it was written before the tragedy. Here is found the hint of Lear's madness, which the old chronicles do not mention, as also the extravagant cruelty exercifed on him by his daughters: In the death of Lear they likewife very exactly coincide.-The misfortune is that there is nothing to affift us in afcertaining the date of the ballad but what little evidence arifes from within, this the Reader must weigh and judge for himself.-After all, 'tis poffible that Shakespeare and the author of this ballad might both of them be indebted to a more ancient dramatic Writer. For that an older play of KING LEIR had been exhibited before Shakespeare wrote, and is even still extant in print, I am affured upon undoubted authority, tho' I have not been fo lucky as to obtain a fight of it. This ballad is given from an ancient copy in the "Golden Garland" bl. let. intitled, "A lamentable fong of the Death "of King Leir, and his three daughters. To the Tune of "When flying fame." Shakespear illuftrated, Vol. 3. p. 302. See Jeffery of Monmouth, Holingfbed, &c. whorelate Leir's biflory in many respects the fame as the ballad. WING Leir once ruled in this land, Kwith princely power and peace, And had all things with hearts content, So on a time it pleas'd the king A question thus to movè, Which of his daughters to his grace Could fhew the dearest love: For to my age you bring content, Quoth he, then let me hear Which of you three in plighted troth, The kindest will appear. To whom the eldest thus began, Dear father, mind, quoth fhe, Before your face, to do you good, And for your fake my bleeding heart Shall here be cut in twain, Ere that I fee your reverend age The smallest grief fuftain. How is thy love ally'd ? My love (quoth young Cordelia then) Which to your grace I owe, Shall be the duty of a child, And that is all I'll fhow. And wilt thou fhew no more, quoth he, Than doth thy duty bind? I well perceive thy love is small, When as no more I find: Henceforth I banish thee my court, Thou art no child of mine; Nor any part of this my realm; By favour fhall be thine. 49 45 Thy P 3 Thus flattering speeches won renown, The third had causeless banishment, Yet was her love more dear : For poor Cordelia patiently Went wandring up and down, Unhelp'd, unpity'd, gentle maid, Through many an English town: Untill at laft in famous France She gentler fortunes found; Though poor and bare, yet fhe was deem'd The fairest on the ground: Where when the king her virtues heard, And this fair lady feen, With full confent of all his court He made his wife and queen. 60 65 7༠ Her |