sweet poems, which thou hast properly dedicated to him, for of all true friends I do believe him to be the truest,—and spoke of his great desire to do thee such service as might be most lasting. He asked of me concerning of thy circumstances, and pressed much to know whether thou didst lack thing he could obtain for thee. Upon this request of his, I presently told him how anxious wert thou to purchase a greater share in the playhouse than what thou hast already.”

any

"Thou shouldst not have told him that, Dick," said Master Shakspeare with some earnestness. "And why not, Will?" enquired Master Burbage.

"In truth, I like not seeming to want aught of any," replied the other.

"Seeming to want a fiddlestick!" exclaimed his companion. "Thou art too scrupulous by far. Dost think I would stand upon my punctilios with one inclined to do me a kindness? I be no such a wittol, I promise thee. But to proceed with my narration. My lord did enquire very particularly what sum was required-the value of the property -the advantages to be gained by a purchase of such a share of it, and the like sensible questions; to all of which, thou mayest depend on it, I gave right sensible answers."

"I would thou hadst never spoke on the matter," observed Master Shakspeare very seriously.

"Out on thee for an ungrateful varlet!" cried Master Burbage. "Well, after this, my lord left me, courteously bidding of me good day, and I, as soon as I might, posted to thee, to let thee know how good a friend thou hast in him; for I be quite certain, though he gave me no hint of a promise, that he hath most liberal intentions towards thee."

"I have seen few of so generous a nature,” said the other. "Yet can I never bring my mind to take advantage of it, nevertheless”

"Here cometh Gib's heavy foot-mayhap he hath a message for one or other of us," observed his companion, interrupting him, and sure enough a footstep was heard of the very clumsiest sort approaching the door-then there came a knock at it, and admittance being granted, certes Gib, the call-boy, made his appearance, looking in no way altered from what he was when the courteous reader had sight of him last, being just as bandy in the legs, as monstrous in the mouth, as squinting in the eyes, as carroty in the hair, as awkward in his manner, and as clumsy in his shape as ever.

"Here be a letter for Master Shakspeare," said he, and straightway Master Shakspeare took it from his hand.

"Well, Chanticleer!" exclaimed Master Burbage, hitting of the boy a slap on the back which nearly sent him off his legs. "Thou didst play thy part famously."

"Methinks, for the playing of the cock in Hamlet, there be few so apt," replied the call-boy, looking exceeding dignified.

"Thou art too modest by half," said Master Burbage with a monstrous gravity. "Thou art sure to be "cock of the walk" wherever thou goest. I'faith, thou deservest to be the king of the cocks and of the hens too, thou hast such a superlative talent for crowing."

"Dost think so, indeed?" cried Gib, grinning with such delight it did stretch his monstrous mouth from ear to ear. "Perchance, if such be your opinion, you will advance me in the profession of which you have said so oft I am like to be so great an ornament?"

" O' my word there would be no such an ornament amongst us," remarked the other, looking upon the uncomely figure before him with all the seriousness he could put on. "But stick to the cock, I prythee, for in the playing of that thou hast not thy peer; yet would I venture to assert that, shouldst thou make an essay in any other part, there would be none like unto thee in the performance of it."

"Doth any person wait?" enquired Master Shakspeare, after reading of the letter, whilst the two were talking.

"None, an' it please you," replied the boy. "It was my Lord Southampton who gave it to me,

as I was shewing of Will Peppercorn the way I would play Romeo, were I let." At this the two players looked at each other very particularly, with something of an inclination to laugh: "and my lord bade me carry it to Master Shakspeare," continued he; "and was so civil as to give me a silver groat; and then, merely requesting of me not to delay in the delivery of the letter, he took himself out of the playhouse."

"Having done what was required of thee, we will now dispense with thy company," said Master Shakspeare.

"Get thee gone, good Cock," exclaimed Master Burbage, lifting up his foot, and lending him such a kick of the breech, as he was a turning round, that sent him, as it were, flying through the open door.

"Nay, hurt him not, I prythee," cried Master Shakspeare, upon seeing the rapid disappearance of the call-boy, though he could not help laughing.

"O' my life, I do believe he hath no more feeling in him than a stone," replied the other, who was very merry upon it. "I doubt not, if he were handsomely paid, he would allow himself to be kicked from this world to the next. He liketh nothing so well. I have seen him rejoice at having a cuff from any of us; and a kick appeareth to

But what sayeth

delight him beyond all measure. my Lord of Southampton?"

"Thou shalt hear," replied his companion, and without further preamble read the following:

6

Worthy Master Shakspeare,

'To say ought of the delicate pleasure I have received from that marvellous sweet poem you have done my poor name the honour of dedicating unto me, I cannot at this present, as I lack time to express all that I feel; and to do less than that, were not to do you justice. Rest you satisfied, then, that though I be silent on the matter, I am eloquent enough at heart: for well can I appreciate such things, and exceeding glad shall I be to prove how well I think of them. On the receipt of this, please you to come to me at my dwelling, for I am desirous you should do me a favour, the granting of which will be to my extreme gratification.

'H. W.'

"O' my life he be but a scurvy fellow after all," exclaimed Master Burbage, jumping up from the table on which he had sat himself, and seeming in a wonderful vexation. "Instead of acting the true friend by thee, with such handsomeness as he might do, without hurt to him, he contenteth himself with asking a favour of thee. A fig for such patrons, say I there be too many of this sort. Wondrous fine fellows are they all, who are exceeding boun