Sonett-Forum

To Shakespeare

If from the hight of that celestial sphere
Where now thou dwell’st, spirit powerful and sweet!
Thou yet canst love the race that sojourn here,
How must thou joy, with pleasure not unmeet

For thy exalted state, to know how dear
Thy memory is held throughout the earth,
Beyond the favored land that gave thee birth.
E’en in thy seat in heaven, thou mayst receive

Thanks, praise, and love, and wonder ever new,
From human hearts, who in thy verse perceive
All that humanity calls good and true;

Nor dost thou for each mortal blemish grieve.
They from thy glorious works have fallen away,
As from thy soul its outward from of clay.