CHAPTER VI. My free drift Halts not particularly, but moves itself These are the youths that thunder at a playhouse IBID. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here! IBID. "OH, Master Shakspeare!" exclaimed the young secretary, in a voice scarcely articulate for emotion, as he caught hold of his hand and stood pale and trembling beside him. "For the love of Heaven, counsel me, or methinks I cannot but go mad.” His friend marvelled greatly to see him in so terrible an excitement; and after talking reasonably, and with a sincere affection, he drew from him what had happened. "To be buoyed up unto the highest pitch of expectation," continued Master Francis, still giving evidence, in his look and manner, he was exceeding moved. "To have the fairest hopes a sanguine my nature ever had—to stand in the presence of the queen of England, and of a right noble company, and to be admired and commended by all-and then to have so gross an insult cast on me that heart boils at it, and to be thrust out of the royal palace with such scorn as the basest of wretches could scarce have deserved-indeed, Master Shakspeare, I cannot—cannot bear it.” "Regard it not, Master Francis," observed his companion, who seemed famously vexed his young friend should have had no better treatment. "Remember, you are in no way to blame in this. The disgrace is theirs who put so infamous a wrong upon you." "Knew you how earnestly I have sought an honourable reputation," added the other, "how, night and day, I have toiled that my name might be in some repute; with how great a love I reverenced those of admirable fame, and how anxiously I strove to gain for myself some of their excellence, that I might live to be thought as nobly of by others as I thought of them, you would know how deeply I feel the contumely that hath been cast upon me by the queen and her court! All hope is lost to me now-nothing but shame and contempt can be my portion." "You wrong yourself mightily in thinking so, and you wrong the world more," answered Master Shakspeare." Mayhap the queen is as good a queen as any; but that she hath either delicacy or feeling, will I never believe: as for the trumpery of the court, I have had sight of them. They will live, die, and rot, and be no more heard of. The good opinion of such be no more worth having than is the cackling of so many geese. Look abroad. There be thousands of honest hearts and manly intellects in the streets and the fields, the chamber of the student, the workshop of the artisan, and the warehouse of the merchant. 'Tis the breath of their voices that hath the establishing of a reputation. The opinion of courtiers be of no worth, and liveth but for a day; but the judgment of the nation soundeth the trumpet of fame, that hath its echoes from generation to generation, unto the ending of the world. Fear not you shall not have justice done you. I doubt not at all your merit standeth as fair a chance of honourable distinction with the world, as any that live. My advice to you is, let not what hath passed trouble you. Come with me to find out this Holdfast. If he be of any reputation he shall own you as a father. If he be of a different sort, heed not his relationship. Come what may, I will be as good to you as any father that breathes; and right happy and proud shall I be to be thought of kin to one of so estimable a nature.” The result of this truly honest speech on the part of Master Shakspeare was the proceeding of the two towards the barber-chirurgeon's in Eastcheap. For all that Master Francis was so moved at what had lately taken place, upon coming nigh unto the house of Geoffrey Sarsnet he could not help recollecting of what sweet pleasure he had there had, and how it had all at once been dashed with bitterness, the taste whereof had since made his life a perfect misery; and from this he presently took to thinking of the strangeness of his seeing Joanna and the Padre Bartolomé together in the room with the French ambassador. However, his thoughts on this matter were quickly brought to an ending upon his entering the shop of his old acquaintance. Master Lather was standing with his spectacles on his nose and his stick in his hand, intent upon the putting on of his hat, whilst giving some directions to an exceeding tall spindle-legged hatchet-faced boy, his new apprentice, whose dull look and awkward bearing made him a famous contrast unto the spirited and quick-witted Harry Daring, his predecessor. Noticing the entrance of two gallants, the barber-chirurgeon turned from his apprentice, and with his hat in his hand, with some courtesy mixed with a marvellous fine gravity, he made up to them and asked of them their pleasure. It was plain he knew not Master Francis, though he had seen him frequently. Master Shakspeare took upon himself the business they had come about, believing he could best manage it. "Know you, good sir, whereabout dwelleth a VOL. III. H worthy man of this neighbourhood, one Master Lather?" enquired he, putting on as monstrous serious a face as ever was seen. "I be Martin Lather, may it please you, sweet sir, and there be no other of that name hereabouts," replied the other, wonderfully pleased to be enquired for in so courteous a fashion by so noble looking a gentleman. "I am infinitely glad so easily to have found one of whom I have heard such good report," added Master Shakspeare, at the which old Lather looked to be in a greater delight than before. "I have come to you on a matter of some moment to this my friend and me, in which none but you can avail us any thing; and from the honorable account we have heard of your great learning, your admirable skill, and your extreme worthiness, we have made bold to wait on you for your advice." "I shall be proud to serve you, sweet sir, in any thing wherein I have ability," answered the chirurgeon, bustling eagerly to put seats for his visitors. "Seat you, good sirs, I pray you; for is it not writ in Esculapius, requiescat in pace,' which meaneth, much standing tireth the legs?" Master Shakspeare would have smiled, but he knew what depended on the keeping of his gravity, so he took the offered chair without moving of a muscle. "I am much bound to those who have so commended me to you," continued old Lather. "As for my |