New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
EliZabethan Clubs Twelfth
Night Play SatiriZes the
Shakespeare-Bacon
Controversy.

yale is unique in possessing an "ElizdbethGn
chb"-dn Organisation for the development Of
A aiterary erection and appreciation" among its
vsderqraduates This club keeps up a Number
A. tho old Ehzobethan trdditions--chief among
.,kiek is the annral celebration Of "TiOelfh
Wight" By presenting play acted by the club
nrp,bers. As ,ple some short Ehzotethdn
.predy IS oiren, but this year the play Wds
,,r;tten bp member Of the present senior
lass. II decls lcith the Boconian -Shdkespear-
;.a controversy, and sctiyizes the frenzted eff
isyts OF numerous scholars to champion the
o,posinc causes of these Etzobethdn authors.
Incidentally, Cleopatra, Queen Bess, DR.. SAM
vel Johnson, and his Boswell, are introduced, IN
an effort to throw light upon the question:
BY CHARLES A. MERZ.
The curtains part, and reveal Cleopd-
ira reclining on a couch-clothed in and
surrounded By regal Voluptuo1sness)
c1EoPATRA-Ah, Cleopatra that little asp
Should bring you TO this bitter end! Oh, Death!
How you did sting! What matter all this pomp
And queenly glory, when there's naught to do
But lie in ennui and regret my fate?
what matter ali my rings anu ohyH SNSN'
When am bored to death by sumptuousness7
(She lights a corn-cob pipe and inholes
tetO erottc pufs.)
v. Godsi since left Egypt I've not seen
A single handsome man. There's no one here
But righteous men. And this Is Paradise!
(She relapses on the couch. rug rolls
out from beneath the couch
What's this? Methinks I know this ancient
rug trick.
(Ths rug begins to qstiver.)
Has some Jehovah heard my prayers!
THE r.to unrolls and Shakespeare a'fses)
Alas!
IT'S only you. I thought it was man,
And not q semi-fsther, semi-nuncle.
sHAKEsPEARE-Ah, Cleopatra Thee whom
begot
In sx.ounce vsllum, bound in calf, with gilt
, Edged mArgins-let me ssy-like Romeo
! Oh, that l were glove upon that hand
That might touch that cheek!
CLEoPATRA-oh, shucks! glove'
Nav, rather say q mit-a frosty nit
Which return to you. By Cocks pink soul,
You bore me TO extinction.
SHAKESPEARE-Tut Tuti Tutl
You quite forget you're but a Galatea
CLEOPATRA-A Galatea. Ry-But you'll admit
am Galatea with punchl
sHAKESPEARE-A puneh7 Wow! What
frightfu word! punch
II sends an icy shiver down my spine.
Where learnt you such a vulgar lingo? Punch!
CLEOPATRA-Why, from that Don Quixote' Wal
ter Raleigh.
SHAKESPEARE-Yo have been seeing Raleigh!
Why, Gods blood!
Methough heard you say you'd seen no man.
CLEOPATRA-Poeti license, will.
SHAKESPEARE-Now do feel
The wrath Of seven Furies q spree!
CLEOPATRA-Why! methinks am
The one who ought to rage, from what I've
heard
About your nightly chats with Desdemons-
woman twice my age-whats more, she
paints
SHAKESPEARE-NOw Cleopatra
CLEOPATRA am Egypt's pride
The Barbara Frietche Of my dayl have
immortal longings in me.
SHAKESPEARE-Thats Just it'll
You've hit the point. No woman should permit
Immortal longings 70 remain within her.
That spoils 1t all. All, mol They should come
out
Like flowers that bloom in Spring, trs-lal
CLEOPATRA-Whst then1
Your senile frost would nip them in the bud.
All William, as a man of heart, you are
TO lapse into the pdtois) out to lunch
You should 20 hearken TO Sir Walter Raleigh.
sHAKESPEARE-To Raleigh? Why, the migrate
must have cribbedl
CLEoPATRA--You fool yourself! Sir Walter
Raleigh's thoughts
SHAKESPEAREr-Wa Raleigh's thoughts, con-
trasted with mine own,
Are but the feeble glow Of lghtning-bugs
Competing with the MONDAY sunl
Hupphl You should hear how lovely Rosalind'
To win the heart Of young Orlando
/ must admit, II makes me blush-toors tro'i-
sersl