"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.

"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 1 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?"

"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.

66

"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, 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"

"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, 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.

was

"Prythee tell me, what have they offered thee a week?" was asked him a 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.

"I thought so," said Gib, with an air of satisfaction that increased the mirth of his companion-then added, in a tone of consolation, "Be not cast down at it. I do assure thee, that if thou wilt abide by my advice, and do the women, thou shalt get as much as that in good time; for truly thou art well fitted for playing in such parts, seeing that thou wilt have no call for a beard yet awhile, and when it doth appear in any sort of prodigality, I have an honest barber of my acquaintance who shall pluck each individual hair out by the roots, and charge thee little or nothing for it."

"I am obliged to thee infinitely," seriously observed the youth, who winced under the very idea of such torture. "I tell thee, once for all, I never had any desire of becoming a player, and all the service I require of thee, is to lead me out of this place as quickly as thou canst."

"Desirest thou not to become a player?" thundered out the astonished call-boy. "Well, here is a fortune thrown away! And I did hope thou wouldst have supplanted our Juliet, who, no later than yesterday, gave me a villanous kick i' the breech for offering to shew him how to die more graceful than is his wont."

"And I will give thee another if thou dost not instantly lead me into the street," added Master Francis, looking as seriously as he could. At this the eyes of the call-boy seemed directed in every way at the same time; and without saying a word more, he began to shuffle his mis-shapen legs away as fast as he could,-closely followed by the other.

While those two were leaving the playhouse Sir Walter Raleigh was hurrying Master Shakspeare along, and they arrived at the queen's room just as her majesty was moving to depart, with all her noble train of lords and ladies around her.

"Please your majesty, here is Master William Shakspeare,” said Sir Walter Raleigh, as he pushed through the throng.

"Let him enter," said the queen. Thereupon, Master Shakspeare advanced towards the queen and knelt before her; and her majesty and many of her courtiers-especially the ladies, did look upon him very curiously.

"Master Shakspeare," exclaimed the queen, "We do commend the excellence of your wit, whereof the application hath pleased us much, on more occasions than the present; and will take care you suffer no hindrance in your calling, so long as you continue as you have done, to attempt not to meddle with matters of state. Of all your performances, that fat knight hath delighted us in the greatest measure; and it seemeth that we should find an additional satisfaction could we see the rogue in love. Think of it, Master Shakspeare, and if your conceit jump that way, send word to the palace, and we will give you the first fitting opportunity to read to us whatever you may write upon the subject." Then graciously giving him her ungloved hand all brilliant with jewels, to which he respectfully bent his lips, her majesty passed him by, followed by her maids of honour, her officers in waiting, and others whose duty it was to attend upon her person, leaving Master Shakspeare kneeling, from which he presently rose, and in a few minutes heard the trumpets and kettle

drums, with the hurrahs of the mob outside, striking up as the queen left the playhouse in her caroch.

CHAPTER VIII.

Millions of yeares this old drivell Cupid lives;
While still more wretch, more wicked he doth prove;
Till now at length that Jove an office gives,
(At Juno's suite who much did Argus love)
In this our world a hanginan for to be

Of all those fooles that will have all they see.

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

There are a sort of men, whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,
And do a wilful stillness entertain
With purpose to be dressed in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit;
As who should say, I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips let no dog bark.
SHAKSPEARE.

"COME, coz! coz! Prythee have done with this sighing and trembling," exclaimed Mistress Alice to her fair cousin, as they were together in their tiring room, seemingly getting themselves ready to go upon a journey. "Why, thou makest as much fuss at being married as might I, for whom the idea of it hath but sorry recommendation indeed. Well, Heaven help them that cannot help themselves, say I-and of all that need help, none are like your would-be wife; for of a truth, she must be in monstrous hard case, that desireth so ridiculous a thing as a husband."

"He cannot help being ruined," observed Mistress Throckmorton sorrowfully, and quite inattentive to the remarks of her merry kins

woman.

But

"Well, blame him not for it," said the other, in her pretty droll way. "For, if he cannot help it, he should escape censure. methinks there be no great cause for such apprehension, for when I shewed thy father's letter to the queen requesting thy presence at Aldgate, on the pretence of his declining health; she had come from the play in so fine a humour, that it seemed as if she could have granted anything: therefore art thou to go, and I with thee: and if thy man animal fail thee not, thou wilt be made his yoke-fellow straight. Now have I very palpably in my mind's eye, the appearance of thyself and thy precious helpmate some two or three score of years hence. Thou wilt sit on one side of the chimney corner, and he on the other, like Darby and Joan: with, mayhap, the cat at thy feet, and the dog at his, and his worship lifting up his woollen nightcap to scratch his bald pate the whilst, shall say, in a monstrous thin voice, like a sucking beetle," here did she imitate an old man's querulous speech to the life-Dame! it be woundy cold o' nights