The following allusion to Shakespeare appeared in John Marston's "Scourge of Villainie," published this year : "Luscus, what 's played to-day? Faith, now I know, I set thy lips abroad, from whence doth flow Nought but pure Juliet and Romeo. Say, who acts best? Drusus or Roscio? If e'er you heard him courting Lesbia's eyes; He writes, he rails, he jests, he courts what not, And all from out his huge long-scraped stock Of well-penned plays." Soon after the publication of Marston's "Scourge of Villainie," the author of "The Return from Parnassus" (probably John Day) was at work on the second of his three plays, which was probably acted at St. John's John's College, Cambridge, at Christmas, 1599. The fol lowing extracts sug- Bas-relief in plaster, formerly in Shakespeare's gest the character of Luscus : = birth-place It represents David and Goliath, and formerly bore the date 1606. Visor of Woncot" (Woodmancote) and "Clement Perks of the Hill" ( Stinchcombe Hill) are specific references to persons and places in Gloucestershire; so, too, "Will Squele, a Cotswold man." Perhaps a quibbling allusion to the "Curtain" theatre. 2v. "Return from Parnassus," edited by the present writer. " Gullio. Pardon, fair lady, though sick-thoughted Gullio makes amain unto thee, and like a bold-faced suitor 'gins to woo thee.1 Ingenioso. (We shall have nothing but pure Shakespeare and shreds of poetry that he hath gathered at the theatres.) Gullio. Pardon me, moi mistressa, as I am a gentleman, the moon, in comparison of thy bright hue's a mere slut, Anthonio's Cleopatra a black-brow'd milkmaid, Helen a dowdy. Ingenioso. (Mark, Romeo and Juliet! O monstrous theft! I think he will run through a whole book of Samuel Daniels!)❜ Gullio. Thrice fairer than myself-thus I began—” • * "O sweet Mr. Shakespeare! I'll have his picture in my study at the court." "Let the duncified age esteem of Spenser and Chaucer, I'll worship sweet Mr. Shakespeare, and to honour him will lay his Venus and Adonis under my pillow, as we read of one (I do not well remember his name, but I am sure he was a king) slept with Homer under his bed's head." The revised Love's Labour's Lost was published this year, with Shakespeare's name for the first time on the title-page of a play 1cp. "Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, And like a bold-faced suitor 'gins to woo him." Venus and Adonis, st. i. 2 cp. Romeo and Juliet, II. iv. 3 Evidently Daniel's debt to Shakespeare was recognised (cp. Preface. Richard II.) cp. Venus and Adonis, st. ii. 1 A PLEASANT Conceited Comedie CALLED, Loues labors loft. Asit vvas prefented before her Highnes Newly corrected and augmented Imprinted at London by W.W. for Cutbert Burby. Robert Tofte's "The Month's Mind of a Melancholy Lover" appeared this year, with important allusions to this play : "Love's Labour Lost, I once did see a play Y-cleped so, so called to my pain," etc. (cp. Preface to Love's Labour's Lost). The First Part of Henry IV. was issued this year (and a revised edition, "newly corrected," the following year, and again in 1604, 1608, 1615). Shakespeare acted in Ben Jonson's Every Man in His Humour, produced in September by the Lord Chamberlain's Company. According to a tradition recorded by Rowe, Shakespeare was answerable for the acceptance of the piece. His name is placed first in the list of original performers of the play. Some interesting correspondence directly mentioning Shakespeare belongs to this year:-(i.) from Abraham Sturley, formerly bailiff, to his brother or brother-in-law in London, containing these words-" This is one special remembrance from our father's motion. It seemeth by him that our countryman, Mr. Shakespeare, is willing to disburse some money upon some odd yardland or other at Shottery, or near about us: he thinketh it a very fit pattern to move him to deal in the matter of our tithes. By the instruction you can give him thereof, and by the friends he can make therefore, we think it a fair mark for him to shoot at, and would do us much good"; (ii.) from the same writer to Richard Quiney (father of Thomas Quiney, afterwards Shakespeare's son-in-law), at the time (November 4) staying in London, negotiating local affairs, probably seeking to obtain relief for Stratford from some tax. Sturley writes that Quiney's letter of October 25 had stated" that our countryman Mr. Wm. Shak. would procure us money," " which I like," he continues, " as I shall hear when, and where, and how; and I pray let not go that occasion if it may sort to any indifferent conditions"; (iii.) on the very day when Quiney had written the letter which called forth this reply from 66 66 |