A month passed by-the honey-moon- Alack! Alack! and well-a-day!' Go, happy youth, and swear at last I heard the horn mad fool complain. I heard a happy widower say;- 'Tis better go hang than marry at all.'" This sung he with such a happy carelessness, it was plain he had not much to fret him; but scarce had he finished it when he heard some one whom he knew on the instant, coming towards the door, whistling of the tune of "Green Sleeves." Not being in a state to be seen of any, for that he was but half dressed, he presently hied to the door and bolted it inside. 66 Ope the door, Will!" cried Master Burbage from without, knocking at it briskly. "Ope the door, I prythee." speare, Tarry awhile, Dick," replied Master Shak"I cannot let thee in for some minutes." Nay, why should I tarry?" enquired the other, "did I not hear thee singing like a very swan? 66 Haste and ope the door, for I must have speech with thee." "Tarry awhile, Dick, I tell thee again," said his companion with more emphasis than at first. "I can let thee in now on no account." "Oh thou villain!" exclaimed he on the outside in his customary jocular manner. "I see through thy tricks now. Thou art not the bird to be ever a singing to thyself. Thou hast got some pretty wench with thee-a murrian on thee for thy slyness." "Thou art out in thy reckoning this time, good Dick, depend on't," observed Master Shakspeare laughingly. "By this hand I do not believe thee," cried Master Burbage. "It be plain from thy singing so like unto a swan, and thy not opening the door to me, that thou art playing at Jupiter and Leda after thine own fashion. Oh, I be so monstrously shocked! I be afraid my innocency will so suffer by keeping of thy villainous company, I shall soon get me a bad character. Dost not know that evil communications corrupt good morals, and be hanged to thee?” 66 Thy good morals, Dick!" exclaimed the other in the like bantering way. "Under what bushel hast thou hid so goodly a rushlight? Thy good morals! Diogenes with his lanthorn might have met with an honest man, but if he spied thy good morals searched he ever so close, he must needs be blest with marvellous fine eyesight." "Out on thee for a reprobate!" cried his companion. "Thou dost slander the modestest nature that breathes." "Then alack for modesty!" replied Master Shakspeare." But I tell thee what it is Dick-I am stripped to the buff, therefore be as patient as thou canst for a minute or so." "I do hugely suspect thee," said Master Burbage. "Thou art not the first I have met in a buff jerkin, therefore is there no occasion to make that a hindrance." Notwithstanding of what he said, his friend opened not the door till he was ready. "I'faith thou lookest marvellous well considering that thou hast just given up the ghost,"" observed Master Burbage upon his entering. "Be thy intent wicked or charitable, oh, representative of the majesty of buried Denmark! But I will see with mine own eyes whether thou hast not been cozening of me." Upon this, whilst Master Shakspeare could not but laugh, the other began to look about him with a monstrous earnestness, rummaging of every place, spying into the drawers and presses, and under the tables and chairs. 66 "Mayhap thou hast conjured her into the bottle," observed he very seriously, as he first took a look into the flask, and then poured out some of the wine into the goblet. Well, if she be as good as this," continued he, upon drinking off of the liquor, "then is she the very excellentest woman I ever came anigh. I'faith, she cannot help being a wench after mine own heart. I drink to her better acquaintance." And thereupon he drunk off another draught of the wine. "But how hath Hamlet gone off to-day?" enquired Master Shakspeare, as soon as he could put on him a serious face. Nought could go better," replied his companion. "I was in front best part of the time, and famously did I notice thy admirable performance; I tell thee truly, Will, thou art the only ghost I would care to look on a second time." "I believe thee there, Dick," said the other with a laugh. "Nay, 'tis probable enough thou wouldst much rather turn thy back on a ghost than look on it at all." "I will acknowledge to thee, I like not holding acquaintance with any," said Master Burbage. "And yet they be not unsocial," observed Master Shakspeare with as much gravity as he could assume. "For I doubt not at all, that not only on its first appearance would one shake thy hand, but shake thy body for thee into the bargain." 66 By this light, that be not so bad!" exclaimed his companion, laughing heartily. "But methinks thy wit be like unto a steel breastplate-the brighter it becometh the oftener it be used." "And that be none so bad," replied his friend. "But how didst like the playing of Taylor?" "He playeth the character of Hamlet so well, that, as far as my judgment goeth, none living can come up with him," said the other. "I do assure thee, I took huge pains in the teaching of him," observed Master Shakspeare, as he was fastening his doublet. "That is manifest enough," answered Master Burbage." And he hath profited well. It was my good hap to be in a room with my Lord of Southampton whilst noticing of the play, and he was quite rapt in it as it were, and greatly commended Master Taylor. But of thy playing of the ghost he seemed to like most of all, for he said there was so awful a fearfulness in thy doing of it, 'twas quite moving to look on; which methinks is nothing more than the truth. We then fell to discoursing of thy many singular excellences, and I do assure thee he spoke right eloquently in thy praise. He mentioned the exceeding fine pleasure he had lately derived from the perusing of thy most |