Then "Married to ANN HATHAWAY."

"The bard's first ticket night" (or "ben."),
His "First appearance on the stage,"
His "Call before the curtain"--then
"Rejoicings when he came of age."

The bard play-writing in his room,
The bard a humble lawyer's clerk.
The bard a lawyer {1}--parson {2}--groom {3}--
The bard deer-stealing, after dark.

The bard a tradesman {4}--and a Jew {5}--
The bard a botanist {6}--a beak {7}--
The bard a skilled musician {8} too--
A sheriff {9} and a surgeon {10} eke!

Yet critics say (a friendly stock)
That, though it's evident I try,
Yet even _I_ can barely mock
The glimmer of his wondrous eye!

One morning as a work I framed,
There passed a person, walking hard:
"My gracious goodness," I exclaimed,
"How very like my dear old bard!

"Oh, what a model he would make!"
I rushed outside--impulsive me!--
"Forgive the liberty I take,