GENERATIONS of fellow poets have lauded Shakespeare, including his contemporary and rival Ben Jonson, who said of him, "He was not of an age but for all time." The Victorian Matthew Arnold added to his praises in 1849.

SHAKESPEARE

Others abide our question. Thou are free.

We ask and ask - thou smilest and art still,

Out-topping knowledge. For the loftiest hill,

Who to the stars uncrowns his majesty,

Planting his steadfast footsteps in the sea,

Making the heaven of heavens his dwelling-place,

Spares but the cloudy border of his base

To the foiled searching of mortality;

And thou, who didst the stars and sunbeams know,

Self-schooled, self-scanned, self-honoured, self-secure,

Didst tread on earth unguessed at - better so!

All pains the immortal spirit must endure,

All weakness that impairs, all griefs which bow,

Find their sole speech in that victorious brow.