You lived when Shakespeare lived,

Lived with him, even, saw each day

Him come among you. Saw you then

Some brightness in his gentle way?

Knew you his greatness then,

And did you hand on what he'd say,

List'ning for every word from those sweet lips

That sing to us in sonnet and in play?

You worked with him upon a stage,

nay, ate and drank with him and played,

Spent leisurely afternoons perhaps

At Mermaid Tavern, in the shade -

Talking and laughing with great Shakespeare.

Was he as other men who toll

And dream and die and love?

Saw you the man we see, the genius

Drunk with divine fire, somewhat above

The best of us, since then? O, player,

Who humbly dwelt in London then,

Blessed thou wert, and art, in him,

And art now envied by a world of men.