# Verses from Shakespeare explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Thomas Gray.

## What happens

A playful plea from 'Willy' (Shakespeare) to Mrs. Anne, a servant, asking her to intervene against their master's potential wrath by sabotaging his writing materials, while extolling the virtues of domestic work over literary toil.

## Themes in this chapter

### Poetry and Artistic Legacy

The poem humorously contrasts the enduring fame of Shakespeare's works with the mundane but valued domestic creations of Nancy.

## Character check-ins

### Gentle Mistress Anne

Addressed as 'gentle Mistress Anne' and 'Nancy'; the servant to whom the poem is directed.

## Key lines

> A moment’s patience, gentle Mistress Anne; (But stint your clack for sweet St. Charitie) ’Tis Willy begs, once a right proper man, Though now a book, and interleaved you see.

Please be patient, kind Mistress Anne (and stop your chatter for charity's sake); it's William Shakespeare asking, who was once a respectable man but is now a book with blank pages.

_The speaker introduces himself as Shakespeare personified as a book, requesting Anne's attention._

> Better to bottom tarts and cheesecakes nice, Better the roast meat from the fire to save, Better be twisted into caps for spice, Than thus be patched and cobbled in one’s grave.

It's better to make tarts and cheesecakes, save the roast from burning, or be made into spice caps than to be poorly mended and patched in one's tomb.

_The speaker argues that domestic tasks are preferable to the indignity of being mishandled or poorly edited after death._

> So York shall taste what Clouet never knew, So from our works sublimer fumes shall rise; While Nancy earns the praise to Shakespeare due, For glorious puddings and immortal pies.

Thus York will experience what Clouet never did, and from our works more elevated aromas will arise; while Nancy receives the acclaim owed to Shakespeare for her magnificent puddings and everlasting pies.

_The poem concludes with a playful inversion, suggesting Nancy's culinary creations will achieve the fame that Shakespeare's works deserve._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_23_se/chapters/verses-from-shakespeare
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_23_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_23_se/chapters