The Romantics, in particular, acclaimed Shakespeare's genius, and the Victorians hero-worshipped Shakespeare with a reverence that George Bernard Shaw called "bardolatry". Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to its present heights until the nineteenth century. Many of his plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime, and in 1623, two of his former theatrical colleagues published the First Folio, a collected edition of his dramatic works that included all but two of the plays now recognised as Shakespeare's. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights. Next he wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest examples in the English language. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by the end of the sixteenth century. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 15. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613, where he died three years later. Between 15 he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of the playing company the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. Scholars believe that he died on his fifty-second birthday, coinciding with St George’s Day.Īt the age of 18 he married Anne Hathaway, who bore him three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon.
His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard"). His plays have been tr William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,īut if the while I think on thee, dear friend,Īll losses are restor'd, and sorrows end.more I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,Īnd with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:įor precious friends hid in death's dateless night,Īnd weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe,Īnd moan th' expense of many a vanish'd sight When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste: Then can I drown an eye, unus'd to flow, For precious friends hid in death's dateless night, And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe, And moan th' expense of many a vanish'd sight Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not p When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:Īnd yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare That music hath a far more pleasing sound I love to hear her speak, yet well I know Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,Īnd in some perfumes is there more delight If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound I grant I never saw a goddess go My mistress, when she walks, treads My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun Ĭoral is far more red than her lips' red I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun Coral is far more red than her lips' red If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.