of Buckingham, but not printed until 1661. In the same play he borrows also from certain other works of Bacon which I now quote :

Sir I cannot flatter.... (From a Letter of Advice to the newly made Viscount Villiers written in 1616. First printed 1661.)

You serve a gracious master and a good, and there is a noble and hopeful prince whom you must not disserve. Adore him not as the rising sun in such a measure as that you put a jealousy into the father who raised you. (Ibid.)

Act 11. Sc. 2. 1636). "Thou flatter'st me !" "1 cannot ;"

(Ibid. Act II. Sc. 1.)

"All true pleasures circle your Highness" "As the rising sun we

do receive you." (Ibid. Act 1. Sc. 2.) The above passages from Massinger are merely from two acts of one play ; this writer's total indebtedness to Bacon is quite beyond estimate. The grave and academic features of the early drama are accompanied by a spirit of the most extreme sweetness. From the wealth of benisons with which this literature is jewelled, I quote a handful, among which I have sprinkled a few from the works of Bacon.

The grace of Heaven before, behind thee, and on every hand, enwheel thee round!

SHAKESPEARE (Othello II. I.) 1622.

Heavens grace enwheel you
And all good thoughts and prayers dwell about you.
Abundance be your friend, and holy charity
Be ever at your hand.

BEAUMONT & FLETCHER (Pilgrim 1. 1.) 1647.

To the environings of His benedictions I recommend your Lordship.

BACON (Letter to ESSEX) 1596.

God lead your grace by the hand.

BACON (DEDI. Essays) 1625.

Goodness guide thee.

FORD (Perkin Warbeck 11. 3.) 1634.

Goodness guide thee.

God's Holy Spirit be among you.

The peace of Heaven,

FLETCHER (Monsieur Thomas III. 1.) 1639.

BACON (Letter to Parliament) 1626.

The fellowship of all great souls, be with thee.

MASSINGER (Bondman v. 5.) 1623-1624.

Everlasting love and sweetness bless you.

MASSINGER (Very Woman III. 5.) 1634-1655.

Let all the number of the stars give light

To thy fair way.

SHAKESPEARE (Antony III. 2.) 1623.

To thee no star be dark

Both Heaven and Earth friend thee for ever.

FLETCHER (Two noble kinsmen 1. 4.) 1634.

All the gods go with you.

SHAKESPEARE (Antony 1. 3.) 1623.

The Gods go with you.

WEBSTER (Appius and Virginia 1. 3.)

All the gods go with thee.

1639-1654.

BEAUMONT & FLETCHER (Philaster v. 4.)

1613-1620.

Those blest angels that love goodness guard you. IBID (Spanish Curate IV. 4.) 1622-1647.

The blessing of the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy Dove, be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and many.

BACON (New Atlantis) 1629.

May all the happiness
My prayers ever sued to, fall upon you.

FORD (Perkin Warbeck 11. 3.) 1634. May Heavens goodness ever dwell about you. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER (Knight of Malta

11. 2.) 1647.

May the dew of Heaven fall gently on you

sweet one.

FLETCHER (Elder Brother IV. 4.) 1637. God bless thee with long life, honour and hearts ease.

PEELE (Edward I.) 1593.

God and fair winds direct him to his home. GREENE (James IV) 1598.

I leave your Lordship to God's goodness. BACON (Letter to BISHOP OF WINCHESTER) 1616. God have your Majesty in his divine protection. BACON (Letter to K. JAMES) 1616.

God keep you and prosper you.

BACON (Letter to VILLIERS) 1616.

God direct you and be with you.

BACON (Letter to his niece) 1617.

Passages such as these lead to the inference that the writers were refined minds, overbrimming with the milk of human kindness. As Spenser observes,

a man by nothing is so well bewrayed as by his manners," and the manners of the dramatists are as excellent as their morals. Facile in compliment and exquisite in courtesy, they display the unmistakable hallmark of fine breeding. Towards women in particular they exhibit manners as lofty as they are remote from tinsel. The position of the weaker sex in the Elizabethan era was very far from enviable, nor was chivalry an universal attribute. "There are," asserted the authors of The Knight of the Burning Pestle (1611), "no such courteous and fair wellspoken knights in this age. They will call one 'the son of a whore' that Palmerin of England would have called 'fair Sir;' and one that Rosicleer would have called 'right beauteous damsel' they will call 'damned bitch.' "

A sudden jar like this brings us swiftly down again to the prosaic grey of Actuality. I instance a few examples, proving that what Reality lacked, was provided in that 'nest of the devil and sink of all sin,' the Stage.