New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-04
SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS.
GERALD MASSEY'S ANALYSIS.
THE SECRET DRAMA OF SHAKEsPEARE'S SON
NETS. BY GERALD MASSEY. Imp. 4to' PIP.
4s2 London Kegan Paul Trench q Co.

THE SECRET DRAMA OF sHAKEsPEARE's SON
NETS BY GERALD MASSEY. Imp. Alto, PIP
4s2. London. Kegan Paul, Trench q Co.
This new edition of Mr. Masseys work has been
largely rewritten, and is now presented in what
the author considers its final FORM 1t is labo-
rious and elaborate analysis Of the Sonnets,"
undertaken for the purpose of demonstrating the
errors of all former commentators IN the inter-
probation of this body Of poetry. Mr.. Massey
departs widely from the common acceptation OF
the sonnets, the mystery Of which has in his
view, been chiefly created by the complete fail
ure of all the earlier Shallespearean scholars to
comprehend their true genesis Regarded as
purely personal expressions of the poet it has
been found impossible to explain them, save by
constructing theory Of his life which finds nc
support whatever in authenticated biographical
records, and which is, moreover hopelessly IN
conflict with any view of his character compati-
BILE with harmony between his personal conduct
and his intellectual works. In order TO obtain
plausible explanation of the "Sonnets' on the
purely personal theory, it has been found neccs-
sary to violate all probability and to ignore the
plain significance Of contemporary testimony BY
supposng that Shakespeare entertained an un-
natural passion for some unknown.
Proceeding on the same general lines, other
Of mistress of whom, had she ever existed, the
poet must have had every reason for being
ashamed and with whom it is required of the
world to believe that he deliberately pilloried
himself to all eternity. The lofty and austcre
ethics which breathe from so many OF the " Son
nets the elevation Of their tone, and the coistral
purity of their atmosphere, have not struck the
inventors of these degrading conectures as pre-
senting any obstacle to the acceptance Of their
foul maginings Throughout his dramatic works
Shakespeare inculcates the highest reverence for
woman, the most profound regard for the sane
tity of the marriage bond This does not give
pause to the critics who, bent upon explaining
everything rightly or wrongly, deliberately i'm
pute to the Poet Of the "Sonnets' not only n
systematic contempt for marital fidelity, but
coarseness and shameessness so phenomenal as to
account for the cold bloodcd perpetuation Of his
vilest actions by the dcbauchee himself. Revolt
ing and inherently incredible as this hypothesis is,
| however, the fact remains that until Mr. Massey
undertook the analysis performed in so exhaust
i've and mastery way in these pages no in
telligiblc solution of the mystery of the Son.
nets had been achieved by any one and for
that reason, and in despair of calculation moro
satisfactory lines, many Shakcspeareans no doubt
Professionally accepted the hbellous theory re-
ferred to
Mr. Massey brings q new one which possesses
so many recommendations that it can hardly fail
to establish itself in the minds of such as are not
hopeessly prepOsscsscd. He begins by attacking
| the received order Of arrangement Of the Son
nets" and shows by internal as we'll as external
evidence, that their chronological sequence as pub
lished hitherto is all wrong BY rearranging
them in groups, he brings out the first faint in
dications of a new Interpretation Then he opens
his argument in support of the main contention
| of his thesis: namely, that while some Of the
! Sonnets" are personal, others are dramatic-that
is to say that Shakespeare wrote these latter in
personifcation of others, and that the sentiments
expressed are not his own, but those of the per-
sons he is dramatically representing. Without
quoting the different classes of Sonnets,' it is
of course impossible to convey tho weight and
significance of this line Of argument, but it may
be said that he said that as Mr.. Massey proceeds
In his careful, patient and minute analysis. the
reader finds new light breaking in upon him at
every step, and the evidcnce{becomes cumulative
and cogent TO the point of Irresistible conviction
The theory is BADLY outlined, that some Of the
Sonnets" were addressed by Shakespeare to South
ampton, and of these mostly the earlier ones
many are intended to persuade the young Earl
TO marriage that the dramatic Sonnets" relate
to the loves of Southampton and Elizabeth Yer
non, and to the lattcr's jealousy and fears o
Lady Penelope Rich that other dramatic Son
nets" were written for or in relation to William
Herbert, Earl of Pembroke; that oil the " Son
nets" which are characterized by passion ar
dramatic; and that all the personal Sonnets'
express those lofty, pure and dignfed thoughts
which we should expect from Shakespeare, ant
which correspond fully with his character a
known to us through his plays.
The acuteness and skill with which MI Messy
works out reinforces and gives tangibility TO hi
hypothesis, are remarkable. II may indeed b
objected that he has extended his analysis so IA
as 70 interfere with the effect Of his conclusions
On the other hand he has written textbook
and an invaluable work of reference nor can ]
+ be doubted that henceforth whoever propose
. an explanation of the Sonnets" which conflict
2 with this will be under paramount Obligation
to encounter and overthrow Mr. Massey's stron
e positions, an indispensable preliminary TO tn
: introduction of new theory. Certainly. tn
author has built soljdly and WELL and even sue
, as question the fnality Of his judgments mus
admire the honest enthusiasm for Shakespeare
? fair fame. the manly indignation against the grea
poets speculative detractors, the lainbent hdmol
the keen wit, the flashes Of poetic diction. tn
brilliant imagery, the vigorous and close reason