Master Francis, if you look well to the world, you shall find that there be feigners that beat us poor players all to naught."

Master Francis had listened with marvellous attention to the discourse of his companion, without daring to hazard a word of reply, for fear of losing some thing he might say in the interim, at which his companion evidently was not ill pleased. In truth, it seemed that the more he beheld of the youth his modesty and discretion, the greater became his liking for him; and as he continued to point out the persons worthy of note,| that were in the room, he looked as if his gratification therein increased with the increasing pleasure he afforded to his auditor.

"There is as goodly a group yonder as you will meet with in a playhouse," continued he; "it consisteth of young Ben Jonson, a veritable son of the muses, who promiseth to be better known than he is; my Lord Buckhurst, one who hath written a tragedy of some note, and loveth to spend his leisure upon players; Master Edmond Tilney, master of the queen's revels, a very proper gentleman, and a courteous, who hath the licensing of plays, and therefore cometh amongst us often; Dr. Thomas Lodge, and Dr. Thomas Legge, who have writ for our neighbor the Rose with a very fair success; and that pedantic and most conceited coxcomb Master John Lily, who hath invented many comedies, yet is like to get himself more laughed at than any of them. Ben Jonson-he that is standing up-seemeth to have the lion's share of the argument, as is his wont; for his tongue is a rattling famously; and I judge from that, the subject of dispute concerneth the ancients, for he prideth himself mightily upon his Greek and Latin. But here cometh my excellent good friend and patron Lord Southampton." At this he broke off, and his companion noticed a noble-looking gentleman, scarce older than himself, well attired, but not too fine in his appointments, who was advancing toward them with an easy courteousness, and a bland aspect.

Southampton laughingly. "Surely there never was thy match at quibbles and quirks! Indeed, thou art a very juggler with words, and at the mere touch of thy wit canst give them any meaning that suits thee."

"In truth, my good lord," replied the other, "my poor words when addressed to you, however little their meaning may be, must needs have a good meaning, for they mean you well at all times; and such can not help but suit me, seeing that I take abundance of care they are brought forth on a fitting occasion."

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There, again!" cried my lord, laughing again very merrily. Sure, never was the like! But I have just left her majesty, and rarely have I seen her in a more commendable humor. She doth applaud Burbage to the very echo, and hath laughed at Green till her sides ached for it. I tell thee, if thou canst please the higher powers so well, hast thou no cause to fear those foolish pragmatics of the city. Let them do what they list. I have spoken on thy behalf to mine honorable and most esteemed good friend, Sir Thomas Egerton, who, for learning in the law, hath no superior; and he hath promised me to exert himself for thy advantage. Keep a good heart. Knowing that thou hast the protection of Master Attorney-General, and art in such absolute favor at court, the aldermen, even if they have the power, the which have I my doubts of, shall not dare drive thee from the Blackfriars. Nay, I should take it in very monstrous hard case indeed, were a few paltry citizens allowed to interfere with the pleasures of so many worshipful lords and gentlemen as find excellent entertainment at the playhouse. Be of good cheer, Master Shakspeare-thou shalt never receive disadvantage at their hands."

"I am infinitely beholden to you, my good lord," said Master Shakspeare. "It is adding another leaf to that volume of favors your lordship's bountiful spirit hath accorded me."

"Take not what I have done for thee as anything," replied my Lord Southampton, putting his hand in a friendly way on the other's shoulder. "For, in honest truth, I am ashamed I have as yet been to thee of such exceeding poor service. Fain would I show in more substantial fashion how honorably I regard the manifold excellencies of thy nature; and be assured I will not rest till I do something to the purpose. But I must needs be gone, for I have a party

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Nay, Tom, thou shalt be put to no such ignoble use, believe me," said Master Shakspeare, now laughing in his turn. "Green thou art, it can not be denied, and it be equally certain that thou wilt be ever-Green; therefore, if it pleaseth thee, when I seek the bays I will come to thee for as much as thou canst provide." "Well said, bully rook!" replied the other, giving him another hearty slap on the back. 66 If thou dependest on me for thy laurels, thou shalt have good store of them-for I do believe that thou hast earned them well."

"So say I," added Master Burbage, with exceeding earnestness.

"But how goeth the play, my masters?" suddenly inquired Master Shakspeare, as if inclined to give a turn to the conversation.

"As well as anything can go that goeth upon legs," replied Master Green. "But how doth a play go upon legs, Tom?" asked Burbage. "That conceit be out of all toleration."

"Not a whit, not a whit, Dick," answered the other-"'tis as plain as the nose on thy face; and I will do thee the justice to acknowledge that thou hast very plain' features."

"Out, thou pudding!" cried Burbage, laughing heartily; and fetching his companion a sly poke in the midriff, he thereupon gave a quick jump away, and went

seed, who coming strutting along in all his finery to ascertain what they were so merry upon, had got nigh upon Master Green, when he was sent by the suddenness of the concussion flying along as if he had been shot out of a culverin, knocking down Lords Dimple and Simple, scattering others to the right and to the left, and fetching Sir Narcissus Wrinkles with one of his outspread arms such a whack of the chaps, that it sent his periwig off unto the other end of the room. In an instant, half a dozen rapiers were drawn; and foremost of all, Sir Narcissus with his bald pate, and swearing in a monstrous passion, was advancing to where stood Master Aniseed, trying to catch his breath, and looking as if he knew not for a certainty whether he was on his head or on his heels. Others presently interposed to prevent bloodshed, but some would not be pacified so readily and a good many were so provoked by the ridiculousness of the whole scene, that they could do nothing but laugh.

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'Let me at him!" cried Sir Narcissus. "By Acheron and gloomy Styx, I'll teach him to play his tricks on me, I warrant you."

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'Sblood, I must kill him within the instant," shouted Captain Swagger, looking prodigiously fierce, and flourishing his rapier in a most sanguinary manner. 'He hath given me a blow! nothing but his life can atone for't."

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"By this light he dies, for he hath hurt my friend," exclaimed Lord Dimple, raising his head from the floor, and looking pathetically toward Lord Simple, who lay at his length a little distance off. Nay, I be not much damaged," replied the latter, slowly placing himself in a sitting position. "But if I trounce him not for the ill office he hath done thee, then is friendship but a name."

"Nay, Sir Narcissus, put up your weapon-it was but an accident," said Master Taylor.

"Ten thousand furies! let me at him, I say!" cried the enraged knight, vainly endeavoring to break from those who held him tight.

"Come, good captain, we must have no fighting here!" cried Master Lowing, who with others were trying to hold him back.

"Away, gentlemen!" bawled Captain Swagger. "He hath signed his own death warrant. He hath done me an offence. Hold me not, I pray you, for I must kill him."

"Who talks of killing?" cried Master Green, looking preposterously valiant and big, and coming in before Master Aniseed with a rapier of a tremendous length, which he had drawn from the scabbard at his side. Is any man so weary of life as to stand before my invincible toasting iron-then let him die now, and pray all the rest of his days. Am I not famed for the killing of giants, of griffins, dragons, and monsters horrid ? Then pity be pitiless: puppies shall drown in pails, or I'll know the reason on't. My masters, before I let fly my valor and shave the world of its humanity, it seemeth to me good to say this much. So he that hath ears to hear, let him give me his ears—and if he be deaf, why, let him hold his tongue. Thus is it-Let it be known to you that the good youth who hath made all this turmoil, be in no way to blame, seeing that he was but an agent in the mischief of which he was the innocent cause; for thus stands the tale: I jumping back suddenly, not knowing such a person was so nigh at hand, came with all my force against him, and did force him, very unwillingly on his part, I will be bound for't, to do what hath excited your high displeasure. Now, mark this: it be an unquestionable truth, that no man is ever in a rage with the bullet that killeth him; but, doubtless, would be glad, if he could, to pay off the pestilent varlet who shot the bullet. Quarrel not, then, with the bullet in this business-but they whose indignations be unquenchable, let them at me-for I shot the bullet."

Shouts of laughter rose from all parts of the room during this discourse, but when the speaker, with his great, stuffed body and valiant looks, more laughable than terrible, began swinging his monstrous weapon about, jumping quickly here and there, and slashing on all sides with an abundance of ridiculous antics, they that were nighest to him made all haste to get out of his way; the rapiers were quickly sheathed, and such roars of laughter followed one another from all the company, that never was the like heard.

"I pray you, if you be good Christians, bury the dead quickly," observed Master Green, gravely putting up his weaponat which every one laughed the more. "Indeed this be killing work," continued he, wiping his brows with his handkerchief, amid the shouts of all around him. "Tis a thousand pities it be so fatiguing to the body, else would I slay as many

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"By this hand I am also a little hurt in the elbow," said he, very tenderly feeling his arm at the joint. But I am villanous sore where I sit me down." "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?" inquired Master Green. "Of a truth, it can not well go without," observed the other.

"And do not the players go upon legs?" asked he.

“Truly, they could not well go without," remarked Master Shakspeare, with all his gravity.

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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?"

I question not that if the play 'stand' at all, it shall have legs to stand upon,' observed Master Shakspeare in the same humor; "but I 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 them 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 Shak

speare, 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."

"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 while 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 ?"

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"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 inquired 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 de parted at the door.

"And how like you the players and their associates?" asked Master Shakspeare to his young companion.

"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, while 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 nor 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 the 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

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