Episode 42: Sonnet on Mrs. Kemble’s Readings From Shakespeare

Sonnet: On Mrs. Kemble’s Readings From Shakespeare
by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

 O precious evenings! all to swiftly sped!
Leaving us heirs to amplest heritages
Of all the best thoughts of the greatest sages,
  And giving tongue unto the silent dead!
How our hearts glowed and trembled as she read,
  Interpreting by tones the wondrous pages
  Of the great poet who foreruns the ages,
  Anticipating all that shall be said!
O happy Reader! having for thy text
  The magic book, whose Sybylline leaves have caught
  The rarest essence of all human thought!
O happy Poet! by no critic vext!
  How must thy listening spirit now rejoice
  To be interpreted by such a voice!