:

"Well said, bully rook!" replied the other, giving him another hearty slap on the back. "If thou dependest on me for thy laurels, thou shalt have good store of them-for I do believe that thou hast earned them well."

"So say I," added Master Burbage, with exceeding earnestness. "But how goeth the play, my masters?" suddenly enquired Master Shakspeare, as if inclined to give a turn to the conversation.

"As well as anything can go that goeth upon legs," replied Master Green.

"But how doth a play go upon legs, Tom?" asked Burbage. "That conceit be out of all toleration."

"Not a whit, not a whit, Dick," answered the other- -"'tis as plain as the nose on thy face; and I will do thee the justice to acknowledge that thou hast very plain' features."

6

"Out, thou pudding!" cried Burbage, laughing heartily; and fetching his companion a sly poke in the midriff, he thereupon gave a quick jump away, and went with a great bang against Master Aniseed, who coming strutting along in all his finery to ascertain what they were so merry upon, had got nigh upon Master Green, when he was sent by the suddenness of the concussion flying along as if he had been shot out of a culverin, knocking down Lords Dimple and Simple, scattering others to the right and to the left, and fetching Sir Narcissus Wrinkles with one of his outspread arms such a whack of the chaps, that it sent his periwig off unto the other end of the room. In an instant, half a dozen rapiers were drawn; and foremost of all, Sir Narcissus with his bald pate, and swearing in a monstrous passion, was advancing to where stood Master Aniseed, trying to catch his breath, and looking as if he knew not for a certainty whether he was on his head or on his heels. Others presently interposed to prevent bloodshed, but some would not be pacified so readily and a good many were so provoked by the ridiculousness of the whole scene, that they could do nothing but laugh.

"Let me at him!" cried Sir Narcissus. "By Acheron and gloomy Styx, I'll teach him to play his tricks on me, I warrant you."

"'Sblood, I must kill him within the instant," shouted Captain Swagger, looking prodigiously fierce, and flourishing his rapier in a most sanguinary manner. "He hath given me a blow! nothing but his life can atone for't."

"By this light he dies, for he hath hurt my friend," exclaimed Lord Dimple, raising his head from the floor, and looking pathetically towards Lord Simple, who lay at his length a little distance off. Nay, I be not much damaged," replied the latter, slowly placing himself in a sitting position. "But if I trounce him not for the ill office he hath done thee, then is friendship but a name."

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Nay, Sir Narcissus, put up your weapon-it was but an accident," said Master Taylor.

"Ten thousand furies! let me at him, I say!" cried the enraged knight, vainly endeavouring to break from those who held him tight.

"Come, good captain, we must have no fighting here!" cried Master Lowing, who with others were trying to hold him back.

"He hath

"Away, gentlemen!" bawled Captain Swagger. signed his own death warrant. He hath done me an offence. me not, I pray you, for I must kill him."

Hold

"Who talks of killing?" cried Master Green, looking preposterously valiant and big, and coming in before Master Aniseed with a rapier of a tremendous length, which he had drawn from the scabbard at his side. "Is any man so weary of life as to stand before my invincible toasting iron ?-then let him die now, and pray all the rest of his days. Am I not famed for the killing of giants, of griffins, dragons, and monsters horrid? Then pity be pitiless: puppies shall drown in pails, or I'll know the reason on't. My masters, before I let fly my valour and shave the world of its humanity, it seemeth to me good to say this much. So he that hath ears to hear, let him give me his ears-and if he be deaf, why, let him hold his tongue. Thus is it-Let it be known to you that the good youth who hath made all this turmoil, be in no way to blame, seeing that he was but an agent in the mischief of which he was the innocent cause; for thus stands the tale: I jumping back suddenly, not knowing such a person was so nigh at hand, came with all my force against him, and did force him, very unwillingly on his part, I will be bound for't, to do what hath excited your high displeasure. Now, mark this: it be an unquestionable truth, that no man is ever in a rage with the bullet that killeth him; but, doubtless, would be glad, if he could, to pay off the pestilent varlet who shot the bullet. Quarrel not, then, with the bullet in this business-but they whose indignations be unquenchable, let them at me-for I shot the bullet."

Shouts of laughter rose from all parts of the room during this discourse, but when the speaker, with his great, stuffed body and valiant looks, more laughable than terrible, begun swinging his monstrous weapon about, jumping quickly here and there, and slashing on all sides with an abundance of ridiculous antics, they that were nighest to him made all haste to get out of his way; the rapiers were quickly sheathed, and such roars of laughter followed one another from all the company, that never was the like heard.

"I pray you; if you be good Christians, bury the dead quickly," observed Master Green, gravely putting up his weapon,-at which every one laughed the more. "Indeed this be killing work," continued he, wiping his brows with his handkerchief, amid the shouts of all around him. "'Tis a thousand pities it be so fatiguing to the body, else would I slay as many score as I have done now, every day i' the year, and find it a very pretty diversion."

"Prythee, sweet friend, tell me if thy hurt be great!" asked Lord Dimple, leaning upon the shoulder of his associate, very anxiously; though, when he saw the great weapon coming into play a minute since, he jumped out of the way without in the least looking after his friend.

"In truth, my elbow be somewhat bruised," replied Lord Simple, with a right dolorous look. "But how is it with thee?"

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By this hand I am also a little hurt in the elbow," said he, very tenderly feeling his arm at the joint. "But I am villanous sore where I sit me down."

"Alack! I have there the most pestilent soreness true friend ever endured," replied the other, and immediately he did begin rubbing himself behind with a countenance that would have softened a heart of stone.

"And now, Tom, to the proofs," said Burbage, after the laughter had abated, and things became in the room, near what they were before Master Aniseed's mishap, "How doth a play go upon legs!" "Doth not a play go upon the players?" enquired Master Green. "Of a truth, it cannot well go without," observed the other. "And do not the players go upon legs?" asked he.

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'Truly, they could not well go without," remarked Master Shakspeare, with all his gravity.

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"Well, then, my masters, dost see the drift of my argument?" said Green. If the play be supported by the players, and the players be supported by their legs, is it not as true as that chickens come out of egg-shells, that a play goeth upon legs?"

6

"I question not that if the play stand' at all, it shall have legs to stand upon," observed Master Shakspeare in the same humour, "but I doubt hugely, that the play and the players go together at all times; for it may chance that the players be damned,' which is like enough of some of 'em that I know; but the damning of the play doth not follow-especially if it be one of mine."

"Out upon thee, thou intolerable piece of vanity and horrible calumniator!" cried Master Green, laughing all the time, "I will forswear thy company, and on the instant take myself off."

"Do so, Tom," replied Master Shakspeare, as his friend was leaving him, "thou wilt save me an infinite world of trouble by it—for I have been taking thee off this many a day."

"I owe thee one for that!" emphatically exclaimed the other, turning round as he was going out at the door, and shaking his droll face at him very merrily, and if I pay thee not, Will, thou shalt hold me in no more estimation than a soused gurnet."

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"Away with thee, thou wilt never become half so dainty a piece of pickle!" retorted his companion.

When Green was gone Master Shakspeare did address Burbage in his usual playful manner, with "Well, Dick-did the verses play the part thou wouldst have them ?"

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Excellently well,” replied he. "In truth, never verses had better reception. If she be not an exquisite judge of all the commodities of a good measure, then stand I on very indifferent footing with a pretty woman."

"I'faith, thy feet have but an indifferent appearance, Dick," said Master Shakspeare, gravely looking down upon the other's shoes. "That must needs become a standing joke," observed his companion.

"It may-for I do not think it deserves to be set down." "Go too!" exclaimed Master Burbage, jocularly. "But listen to

me.

I watched her the whilst she read thy poem, and, believe me, her face be worth the looking at: and as she proceeded she opened her pretty lips-a tempting pair, by this light and said, 'That is not ill-and anon, brave words!' and presently, an excellent good

conceit;' and thus went she till she came to the end-when she did acknowledge that they were of better stuff than she had expected of me."

"Then must she have had a marvellous bad opinion of thee," duly remarked his companion, "and evidently knew thy value to a fraction. But what didst get for them?"

"Dost think I kiss and tell?" said the other, in a seeming indignation. "But I tell thee how it is, Will-I have cut out him of the sonnet-he hath no more chance than a drowned kitten in Houndsditch. And our next assignation hath a very pretty conceit in 'it, for it is agreed between us that I shall come to her door; and to prevent mistakes, when she says 'who's there,' at my knocking, I am to reply, 'It is I-Richard the Third.""

"What, dost mean to play the tyrant with her?" laughingly enquired Master Shakspeare. "But let not thy longings for her father's gold make thee too sanguine. Mayhap thou wilt find plenty of Richmonds in the field yet."

"I care not if there be-I am desperately in love; and if she is to be had, will have her in spite of them," replied Master Burbage. "But there is our Stentor, with his lungs o'leather, giving me a pretty loud hint that I am wanted; so I am off." Saying which, he hastily departed at the door.

"And how like you the players and their associates," asked Master Shakspeare to his young companion.

"In truth, exceeding well," replied Master Francis, cheerfully, "never have I been so much amused as during the time I have been here. Methinks they must lead a right merry life."

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'They are the very grasshoppers of the age," observed his friend, 66 a small matter of sunshine sufficeth to make them chirp; notwithstanding which they ofttimes live in fear of being trodden under foot, or snapped up by such as think fit to devour them and their substance." Doubtless, in this Master Shakspeare did allude to the efforts that had been made by the city authorities to deprive himself and his associates of performing plays within their jurisdiction.

After some time longer passed in the room, his friend did lead Master Francis out just as many of the players came in, denoting that the play was over; and after carefully picking his way along, he was brought before a large curtain, in the which there was a hole whereat Master Shakspeare took a peep, and desired his companion to do the same. He looked, and saw a throng of people of the respectable sort, standing up close together a little below him; whilst a vast number of rooms, all round about and above them, were filled with lords and ladies, and the like, very splendidly attired; and up higher on "the scaffold," or gallery, were a crowd of the meaner kind, who could afford neither a shilling or a sixpence, such as had been paid by "the groundlings," and those in the rooms, but came only as threepenny customers. All was open to the sky, and at top was a great flag. But what struck him the most was the noise and hubbub of the people. Some were shouting "God save the queen," others casting up their hats, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs; and turning his eyes to where the looks of the audience were directed, Master Francis be

held, in the largest of the rooms, all daintily fitted up with curtains of satin and gold, her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, who, with a very queenlike dignity, had presented herself in front of her noble attendants, clad with princely magnificence; and continued most graciously to curtsey to her applauding subjects.

He had not been many minutes engaged in observing this interesting scene, from the attractions of which he could scarcely take off his eyes, when he felt himself touched on the shoulder, and turning round, saw a handsome and gallant looking gentleman approaching the place where he stood.

"I have been in constant expectation of seeing you, Sir Walter".

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Speed thee, Master Shakspeare, and follow me," said the other, interrupting him quickly.

"I must first request your kind offices in favour of my young friend here, who is a youth of excellent parts and"

"Let him come to me at Durham House to-morrow, at eleven o'clock," said he, " for, in truth, I have not a minute to lose now. Her majesty hath desired that thou shouldst be presented to her, and if we make not prodigious haste she will be gone."

"Be sure and go to Durham House, as Sir Walter Raleigh hath required, and thou wilt find thy advantage in it," whispered Master Shakspeare; and in a moment afterwards Master Francis found himself alone. For a minute or two it seemed to him that all had passed as a dream. It appeared scarcely possible that he should have stood in the presence of the far-famed Sir Walter Raleigh-have been recommended to his patronage, and desired of him to call at his mansion: and it could not but be (so he thought) that the stately looking gentleman, so richly clad, who a moment since stood before him, was a mere delusion of the fancy. These reflections threw him into a profound reverie, in the which he was so completely lost, that he saw and heard nothing around him.

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Prythee tell me, what have they offered thee a week?" was asked him third time before he noticed that the ill-favoured and inquisitive knave, Gib the call-boy, with his enormous mouth upon the stretch, and his eyes squinting more abominably than ever, was at his elbow, wondering that he could get no answer.

"Hold thy prate-I know not," was the reply.

"Nay, if thou knowest not, thou canst not tell, of a surety," observed the call-boy. "But thou canst think without knowing, and therefore say, I prythee, what thou dost think they have offered thee?"

"What matters it to thee," replied the other, in spite of himself, amused at the coaxing, wheedling manner in which the bandy-legged urchin attempted to win the important secret from him.

"In honest truth, I am curious to know if they are inclined to give thee as much as a whole shilling a week and find thyself out on't," said the boy, holding up his head with such an affectation of conceit that the other could not help laughing in his face.

"Then, in honest truth, I believe they are not," responded Master Francis.