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On the Characters of the English Poets By a Northern Bard

Unrival'd Shakespeare ev'ry key can hit Rise in the Hew - rally in the Wit, ?ich varying characters of Man, has read, [From?] the proud Palace to the peaceful shade; [and?] still the present scene signposts so well, [illegible] think 'tis there his talents most excell: -- Then wild Othello mourns his murdered Wife, [and?] vapouring Falstaff lies to save his life; [When?] Manly Brutus pleads the cause of Rome, [and] Midnight stags fortell Macbeth his doom; When lively Benedict at marriage snears, And poor Ophelia fills our eyes with tears; When simple Timon sees he was too fond And bitter Shylock claims the forfeit bond; When moralizing Jaques sends forth a sigh, And gay Mercutio makes his sallies fly; When Desdamona breathes her tender vows, And arch Petruchio tames his rampant spouse; When bloody Richard trembles at his dreams, And Woolsey sees the wreak of all his schemes; When John would hint, what Hubert should perform And frantic Leon raves amidst the storm -- In ev'ry scene his raptur'd audience find Their feelings captivated to that matchless mind, No second Shakespeare shall the world behold, For Nature, when she cast him, broke the Mould.