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"Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me!."



By: J!.Donne
From: "Death Be not Proud"
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee!.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie!.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then!?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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try John Donne's "The Flea"- its short and the double entendre in it is funny!. or if you want something from shakespeare himself you can try something from as you like it!. as you like it is considered old will's funniest play!. here is a speech from it (Jaques, in the forest, i think)!. if its done properly- its a riot!.


All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages!. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms!.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school!. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow!. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth!. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part!. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound!. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything!.

good luck!! (you can youtube Reduced Shakespeare Company to see how they do shakespeare!. they're really good!)Www@QuestionHome@Com

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"The noble nature" by Shakespeare's friend Ben Jonson!.

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make Man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it fall and die that night —
It was the plant and flower of Light!.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Perhaps too many lines but!.!.
"Vulcan's Song" by John Lyly (1553-1606)

Y shag-hair Cyclops, come, let's ply
Our Lemnian hammers lustily!.
By my wife's sparrows,
I swear these arrows
Shall singing fly
Through many a wanton's eye!.

These headed are with golden blisses,
These silver ones feathered with kisses;
But this of lead
Strikes a clown dead,
When in a dance
He falls in a trance,
To see his black-brow lass not buss him,
And then whines out for death t' untruss him!.
So, so: our work being done, let's play:
Holiday, boys! cry holiday!Www@QuestionHome@Com

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http://poetry!.mirandasbeach!.com/content/!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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