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Became as honey sweet;

And when, o’er plain and hill,

Each tree was leafless seen,

My boughs did flourish still

In everlasting green.”

And thus our moral food

Doth Shakespeare leaven still,

Enriching all the good

And less’ning all the ill;—

Thus, by his bounty shed

Like balm from angel’s wing,

Though winter scathe our head,

Our spirits dance with spring.

With reference to the first of the following essays there recently came into my hands an interesting letter from the author, which may well be quoted here. Walter Savage Landor’s Citation and Examination of William Shakespeare had been published in 1834, and apparently Jerrold’s correspondent had pointed out the similarity of theme:—

“11 Thistle Grove, Little Chelsea,

“August 6th (1835).

“My dear Sir,—The Trial of Shakespeare was, I think, published by Bentley. I have only read extracts from it in reviews; and though therein I recognised nothing similar to my little sketch, nevertheless the publication of the book does, on consideration, seem to preoccupy the subject. I concluded that you had seen something of the volume, or should before have pointed it out to you. If you please—for I confess myself somewhat thin-skinned under any charge of plagiary, the more especially when unmerited—you may omit the first legend.