...contributed a poem 'to the memory of my beloved, the author, Mr. William Shakespeare', and later wrote, 'I loved the man and do honour his memory, on this side idolatry, as much as any.' He was gentle Shakespeare, sweet Shakespeare, good Will, friendly Shakespeare - that, at least, seems to have...

...an open and free nature: had an excellent Phantsie; brave notions, and gentle expressions," and then "I loved the man and do honour his memory, on this side idolatry, as much as any." Such facts as these are more or less all that is known of the life of this man who left such an extraordinary...

...went on to pay tribute to Shakespeare in words that seem all the more genuine for not being effusive. 'I loved the man, and do honour his memory - on this side idolatry - as much as any.' Jonson went on to say, 'He was indeed honest, and of an open and free nature; had an excellent fantasy,...

...candor, (for I lov'd the man, and doe honour his memory (on this side Idolatry) as much as any.) Hee was (indeed) honest, and of an open, and free nature: had an excellent Phantsie; brave notions, and gentle expressions: wherein hee flow'd with that facility, that sometime...

...mastered earliest and 'with that facility' that earned him the reputation of never having blotted a line. 'He was (indeed) honest, and of an open, and free...had an excellent fancy; brave notions, and gentle expressions'.23 'Brave notions' are notions that are finely-dressed, splendid, showy, or handsome....

...had not told posterity this, but for their ignorance, who choose that circumstance to commend their friend by, wherein he most faulted. And to justify mine own candour, (for I lov'd the man, and do honour his memory (on this side idolatory) as much as any.) He was (indeed) honest,...