liege bowmen shewed marvellous skill-but it hath since been made known to me, that there was one nearer than they, whose archery beat them hollow."

"An excellent fine conceit, by my troth," exclaimed his fair companion, laughingly, " and cometh with marvellous good grace from one who out of all contradiction draweth the long bow' very prettily."

"O' my life I swear to you—”

6

"Nay, swear not, good sir," cried the other, interrupting him, "for that be somewhat more than is required of you. Would you not take oath upon it that mine eyes outflash the diamond--my lips be ruddier than the cherry-and that my cheek putteth to shame the blushing of the rose?"

"Doubtless would I," replied he, looking upon her features; which in truth were exceeding comely. "And think you I can find interest in that I have heard so oft?" enquired she. "Other gallants have I met with who were of such bountiful disposition that they would put all nature into disgrace for allowing me to leave her excellences so far behind. Was not that liberal of them? methinks it would have sounded better from their lips had their object been as generous as their words. They would have had me believe myself a deity forsooth; but had I granted their prayers,

But

what a poor idol of clay I should quickly have been thought."

Master Shakspeare said nothing; but he marvelled greatly at the tone and manner of the speakerthe which differing from his experience, made him the more inclined to a nearer intimacy.

"Count me not as one of those, I pray you,” he exclaimed at last. "I look upon you as a truly admirable woman; one withal no woman's son could look on without admiring, and could not admire without loving desperately. Then as for comparisons between your excellences and those of nature, I do assert, and hope to live and die in that opinion, that of all fair things that give beauty to this flowery earth, the loveliness of woman exceedeth them infinitely. Place side by side with those thrilling orbs the brightest stone that ever glistened in the sunbeam, and while the spectator admireth the latter only for its brilliance, he must find quickly he cannot gaze upon the warmer and more glorious radiance of your eyes, without feeling the flood of life rushing through his veins like a mighty river breaking from its banks. The one hath no expression—the other hath a thousand. And let him who prefereth fruits and flowers, note the honey sweet smile that playeth round those tempting lips, or press the eloquent softness of those blushing cheeks; and I will wager my life on it he will presently

VOL. I.

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leave the poor unloving things he hath so much admired, for the rich beauty of such delicate flesh and blood as it is now my happiness to behold."

"I'faith these are brave words,” replied his fair companion. "But I doubt not you would say as much to any other that taketh your fancy for the while."

"You much abuse me by that opinion," said Master Shakspeare.

"Yet will I acknowledge to you," added she, "that you have in some way pleased me. Your language and bearing differ from all I have had acquaintance with save one; and I live in hopes that you are of a better sort. 'Tis strange you never told me your name."

"Not more so can it be than that you have refrained from telling me yours,” observed he.

"Mine is Joanna," added the other.

"Joanna!" exclaimed Master Shakspeare, as if he had heard the name before, for in truth he had; but had forgot the occasion of it; "and what else ?"

"No matter that is enough to call me by," replied she. "And now, if it please you, yours."

"Mine is William."

"William what?" enquired Joanna.

"No matter that is enough to call me by," replied Master Shakspeare with a smile.

"You will not say?" she asked, as if she was curious to know. "Then must I take my leave of you, for I am in haste to return home."

"Let me at least see you to the street in which you dwell," said he, as he was standing with her at the end of the bridge. “I should hold myself but a sorry gallant to leave so fair a creature to find her way home unattended."

"Oh, if your name is such that it may not be told, the sooner we part company the better for me," observed Joanna, smiling in her turn.

66 Nay, it is not so bad as that, believe me," answered the other. "In truth, I may say it is a name in some repute. But it may just as well be told walking as standing." And at that, she hesitated not to proceed onwards. "Doth it not strike you," he continued, "that what is fair in one case is honest in another; for as you have given me but your Christian name, have I given you but mine: and yet are you not content."

"Were you as well disposed towards me as you have asserted," observed his fair companion, who, as is usual, grew more inquisitive the longer her curiosity remained ungratified, "you would have made no question about the matter. I'faith it says but little for your regard. Methinks you must either have an ill name, or hold me of so little account, that you think me undeserving of knowing you."

"Neither, o' my life!" exclaimed Master Shakspeare. "Never met I a pretty woman I so much desired to be well known unto-and as for my name, I do assure you it standeth well in the public estimation."

"By my troth 'tis hard to credit," replied Joanna, though the more intent from what he said, of getting the knowledge she required. Just at that moment the Lord Southampton, the Lord Pembroke, and other noble gallants, to whom he was well known, came riding by very finely apparelled, and pulled off their hats to him. "Know you those princely looking gentlemen ?" she enquired.

"It is mine excellent good friend the Lord Southampton and certain of his acquaintance," replied he at which she became all the more curious, and as they arrived at the corner of Eastcheap, she said, "Here is the street in which I live, where I must leave you: but your name hath not yet been told to me."

66

Nay, let me behold the dwelling in which lives so inestimable a creature," asked the other very pressingly. "And as for my name-it may be told in one street as well as in another," and they continued to walk together.

"What a place for traffic is this!" exclaimed Master Shakspeare," and how busy do the citizens seem in the different shops and warehouses! Me