The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05

tho appendix In order to appreciate what may
be said or imagined on behalf Of the theory that
Christopher MArlpwc was the author Of the best
II not OIL Of N Shakespeare plays. For 1, is. in
tho novel that hc auhyr undertakes To give a
plausible answ"r I" The obvious objection that
Marlowe died some years before the composition
Of tho best plays that pass under Shnkespeare's
name The explanation suggested is that Mar.
lowe did not really die at the dac Of his supposed
death, but had the gravest possible reasons for
desiring the report Of his death to be believed,
Z.
II Is the g'Dunds 81 his theory. set forth
by Mr.. Zeiglcr ~ the preface and the appendix.
thai comprise between them some twenty pages,
80 which We would here direct attention. lie be-
gins by acknowledging that. FOR the assumption
that the Shakespeare plays were written by Mar.
lowe, two premises are required. namely first:
The proof that he did write or could have
written them and. secondly the discovery Of
sufficient moti," for his concealment Of the fact.
As 10 tho FRS inquiry. Mr. Zriglcr's belief hat
Christopher Nariuwe could have written the plays
Is supported. as ~ shown in the appendix, by the
opinions Of Phillips Collier Dowden Malone
Svinburno amt Dycc These opinions, TO which
wo shall presently refer. founded upon the
striking similarity Of the strongest portions OF
Aerlowc's acknowledged works To passages Of
tn0 onhkcSptAtf pays inc tnucnCN OF eACn OF
those 70 degenerate into pomposity and bombast
In passages Of tragic path IS, the similar treatment
OF characters and the like spirit that pcrvades
them The esteem IN which Marlowe WAS held
by his contemporaries in the English intellectual
world Is attcScd by PetOwe, Chapman Pcelc,
Blunt Harvey. Chettle and Drayion in words
that arc s,rikiugly contrastcd with the meagre
contemporary notices Of Shakespeare We are
reminded by Mr.. Zeigler that Hen JOnson's verses
commcndstory 81 Shakespeare. which are pre-
nxed to the Folio Edition Of 1923 cannot be in
clnded among cpnicmpDrary illusions, for they
wore not written until seven years after Shake
speare's death. Ben Jouson failed to write any
thing eulogistic about Shakespeare while the
latter lived. Henry Pcttowc. on the other hand
writing in 1898 speaks Of Mario admired, whose
honey flowing vein no English writer yet
attaino.- George Peee wrote. Unhappy in
thine end. Marley. the MUSES. darling for thy
verse. At 10 writc passions for the souls below.
II any wrctchrd souls in passions speak" Gabriel
Harvey. writing in 1898 the year OF Marlowe's
repuiei death asks lis il dream or is the high.
rs, mind that ever haunted Paul's or haunted
wind bereft of tina, same sky-surmoun,ing
breath that breath that taught the tympany TO
swel,- Michael Drayton's words more IA
miliar Next NARROW. bathed in the Thespian
springs had in him those uanslunary things
thai the first poets had. his rap,ures all air
and hre, which made his verses clear"
Let us glance now at the testimony OF those
who have dlscerned Close rcscmblances between
Marlowes tragedies and those which are a,tribu.
tod to Shakespeare, and who have held the former
poet intellectually qualified 10 have produced
tho latter COMPOSITIONS Thus Phillips in his
sTheatrum Poctarum." published in 1880 calls
Marlowe "a second Shakespeare, not only be-
cause no rose. like him. from an actor To be
q makor Of plays, but also because he seems To
have Q resemblance "a that clear. unsophistcatcd
wit that In natural 10 that Incompatible poet"
Malone though, that II Marlowe had lived To
finish his Hero and Icander,' he might perhaps,
have contested the pain with Shakespeare in
his Venus and Adons and RAPE Of Lucrece.'
Collier considered that 'Marlowe, had he lived,
would have become formidable rival 10 Shake
speare- Dowden says oi the period when Shake
spearo II supposed 20 have begun writing for the
stagc THE department II tragedy was then
dominated by - writer VI superb genius, Christie
phor Marlowc. Shakespeare, whose puwers n
peued slowly, may, "a, the time when he wrote
Tho Comedy ~ Errnrs' and Loves Labor Lost,
have well hes,ntcd to dispute with Marlowe
his special province ImI,ators and disciples
had crowded around the master" Dycc in his
"Marlowe.- Is convinced that with added years
and well directed efforts he IMnrlowcl would
have mado much nearer approach To Shake
speare than has yet been made by any Of his coun
trymon' Swinhurnc points out that in his
hrst stage. Shakespeare had dropped his plummet
no deeper into the Of the spirit Of man than Mar.
lowe had sounded before him. and in the channel
Of simple emotion no pct could cast surer line
with sscadicr hand than he" lie adds; 1t
IRchard Ill J Is doubtless better piece Of work
than MaIlowe did dare not say than
Marlowo ever could have done II Is not for any
man 70 measure above all II Is not for any
workman in the ield q! tragic poetry 10 take