William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Song in Merchant of Venice. Robert Bridges, ed. 1916. The Spirit of Man: An Anthology

Robert Bridges, ed. (1844–1930). The Spirit of Man: An Anthology. 1916.

Song in Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)


TELL 1 me where is Fancy bred,
Or in the heart, or in the head?
How begot, how nourishèd?
Reply, reply.

It is engender’d in the eyes,	5
With gazing fed; and Fancy dies
In the cradle where it lies:
Let us all ring Fancy’s knell;
I’ll begin it,—Ding, dong, bell.
Ding, dong, bell.	10

Note 1. Shakespeare. Song in ‘Merchant of Venice’. [back]