The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-25

tOn. L ne nfsJ twelve are from the 'SOnnetS
published in 1909, four years before the date of
the letter. and are those numbered |, 2, T. g. 23,
"a "a, A. 4j, 46, Ga, and 65 In the manuscript
each sonnet is written on separate paper, aud
numbered l, 2, 3, etc, up to II. in the same
order as in the printed editions.
'From the use of the apostrophe to mark the
genitve case, and from the spelling generally, |
am certain that the writer copied these sOnncts
from some modern edition. Then comes the
following
A SONNET.
Like ring without finger
Like bell without a ringer
Like a ship which ne'er is riggd
Or mine that's never diggd,
Like wound without q tent
Or ciyet-boX which has no scent:
just such as these may she be said
Ihat lives, neer loves, but dies maid.
WILLIAM SHAKSrEARE.
Among the letters of Calico, 5000 in num-
Der, all obtained by NJ Chases from the same
source, is one to Madlle de Gournay, in which
he encloses a translation of these sonnets in
French prose. The paper upon which the trans
lations are written has singular resemblance
in size and quality to that upon which the ori-
ginals are written. ] entertain no doubt that
the whole are modern forgeres.
'In many of the other letters attributed to
Shakespeare, the frauds are gross as noun
tain, open, palpable. For instance, there is a
letter to Larivey, dated Janvier 1911. /. e.. ac-
cording TO our modern reckoning 1878, when
Shakespeare was not quite fourteen years old.
The youthful prodigy says -'Ce que m'avez
ecrit de rOrigine des spectacles en- France ma
porte fare quelques recherches sur cCuX dan
gleterre ct yous le communiqueray 81 me lie per-
mettez. He says that he has heard of the famous
Rabelais and asks his correspondent to send
him both Rabeais' works and those of Joachim
du Beay In another to the same. dated % De-
cembre, 1877, he says:-'En lisant votre theatre
jy aytrouvc des chooses qui m'ont porte au desr
de marcher sur vos traces, non que fave la
pretention de vous suivre de pres, mais enfln
ie me sens entraine vers cette vocation. lIe
goes on to ask for advice, and for French works
to consult. Thus as Newton derived his science
from Pascal. so Shakespeare derived his dra-
matte art from Lariyey, and both in their tender
years were masters of the French language. In
another letter of still earlier date, 9 Jun.
1876 addressed to person not named, Shake
speare, aged twelve, says:-Jay lu. avec beau
coup de satisfaction ct de plaisr les ouyragesAue
yous mavez envoyes ct qui pour la pupart trail
tent du theatre. Jay mis- d'abord mes refieXions
sur le theatre Francois, ensuite du theatre Ita-
lien ct sur lie theatre Espagnol. Jay
dessein de me bien penetrer de tout ce qui tient
ce beau langage qui SO prete 81 bien Fart
poetique. Cest yous dire avec quel plaisir lay
III les puvres de MarOt, Ronsard, DespOrtes,
Regnier, etc. Aussi, Monsieur, veuillez
me tenr au courant de ce qui paraitra de nOu-
veau.' In another letter Shakespeare tells his
correspondent that he has often heard of him
from Ronsard, the poet of Mary Stuart Evil
IDENTIFY the forger supposed that Ronsard accom-
panied Mary Stuart to England He has con-
founded Mary with her mother, Mary Of
Lorraine.
'In letter to Madlle de Gournay, dated 20
Mars, 1894, Shakespeare speaks of the death of
Montaigne an event of which he had very
recently heard Now, Montaigne died Septem-
ber l3, 1892. In the same letter he says that a
friend of his has translated Montaignes Essays
into English. Florios translation, to which the
alusion is doubtless made, was only published
in 1908. Finally, in two letters to Mad'lle de
Gournay, dated 12 Juin, 1914, and 10 Aout,
1914, he speaks of his intimacy, with Mary
Stuart and feeling that he is now at the close OF
his career, he sends to Mad'lle de Gournay as a
precious deposit two hundred 'enJlemes
GLAMOUR, written by Mary Stuart in her own
hand for her first husband, Francis ii, which
she confded tosShakespeare's care, because her
new husband presumably Darnley) was
jealous of the affection which she bore to the
first. Now. Mary was married to Darnley
February 9. 1867, when Shakespeare was not
quite three years old. 1t is needless to add
that these 'emblemes d'Amour also form part OF
this wonderful collection. Among other papers
French proverbs and sayings relating to love.
each written ON a slip of paper, with an English
translation, and signed w. Shakspere.' Here
are some specimens:-1S. Amour vainqueur des
DieuX Love conquers the GOthS. %. The
French devise, which ] omitted to copy is &c
dieu est tout puissant, or something to thai
effect thus translated: L. Wan is it Goth cam
do?' In another we find War eHcyOogeS love
meaning, / suppose, encourages. Again, I'm
happy are those which is touched by it-a re
markable Instance OF the aXty of shakespeare
grammar Again, 'Ihe mouth utters ram th'
heart feels
'Besides what ] have mentioned, there arc
several slips of paper all siYued by Shakespeare
containing materials for a jest book apparently
Here is a sample:-
A Prudent Warnings query 'WarnlngD
am willing TO gram yOu the favour you ask me,
said a young lady to her spark after You have glyei
me what you have not, what you can never nave
and vet what 1t is i'll your power to give me. PeThap
the spark did not understand that riddle whicl
meant nothing else but husband.-W. SHAKE
SPERE.
''Anothcr, signed also Shakespeare is called
Anecdote, and begins thus:--A cavalier tha
had a very fine woman in his eye, could not for
bear telling her that she was wonderful pretty
etc.
monsieur Chasles, who is naturally 10th {,
admit that he has been so grossly imposed upon
still endcayors to convince himself of the genu
ineness OF some, at least Of these documents
He SAYS that the person from whom he recelVe
them is a thoroughly iliterate man, whereas
would require considerable knowledge OF Ian
ouages and great eruditiOn 10 forge such docu
ments But man'Who writes 'wath for 'what
and Goth for God cannot have very pro
found knowledge Of English, and the cruditon
such as it is may all be derived from the page
of the Geographic Cniversele. II the forge
had studied even that with tolerable care h
would have avoided the monstrous anachron
isms which have pointed out In CONCLUSION,
feel bound 10 state that ] believe NJ Chasles !
have acted throughout with perfect good ialtl
His own honesty and simplicity OF characle
have made him The victim OF Nm nscrupulou