Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-16
MURAL TAbl EFT MARKING Tonr
Or SHAEsrEARE MHoLY hlN1TY.
CHURCH, STRATFoRp-- ON-ANON

the sixteenth century he was regarded
as poet of unusual merit, as one of
the principal actors of the leading COM
pany in London and had become rec
ognized as the greatest dramatist of
the day.
A favorite actor and playwright of
Queen Elizabeth, who showed him
marked favor for his accomplishments,
he was as highly honored in King
James reign, when king and courtiers
the homage due his supreme genius
OF Shakespeare's spirit and nature
his friends bore the kindest witness
He was sweet Shakespeare" and gen
tie Sha kespeare" to many of his day
One rapturous courtier of the time
wrote. Sweetest Master Shakespeare,
I'll have his picture in my study at the
courte.' and Milton sang:
Sweetest Shakespeare fancy's child.
Marbles his native woodnotes wild.
One of the earliest tributes to Shake
speares genius is contained in the pal
book published by Francis Meres in
1898. In this he describes his early
poems. which, after the fashion of the
time. authors distributed among their
personal acquaintance, as his sugred
sonnetts among his private friends"
AS a dramatic author Meres makes the
statement that Shakespeare was the
most excellent in both kinds de COM
edy and tragedy for the stage, and the
most passionate among US to bewaile
and bemoane the perpleXities of Love"
To Ben Jonson, probably his closest
friend and warmest admirer, he proved
himself a loyal and generous comrade
and rare Ben" in turn gave him due
need. Il loved the man." he said, land
do honour his memory on this side idol
airy as much as any. He was indeed
honest, and of an open and free ma
ture." To his work he gave unstinting
praise, and confesses his writings to
be such as neither man nor muse can
praise too much" In poetical tribute
he further says:
Ny Shakespeare rise: I will not lodge thee Nv
.hauucer or Spencer or bid Beaumont I've
\ little further. to make thee a roome:
Ihou art Monument without 1ombe
And art alive stll. while thy booke doth live
And We have wits TO read. and praise to give
IN referring to the lack of authorize
tive biographical material, saws:
Sha kespeare is the only biography of
Shakespeare; and even he can tell moth
ing except to the Shakespeare in us
that is. to our most apprehensive and
sympathetic hour. "
Hence. though our external history
is SO meager, yet. with Shakeseare for
blographer. instead of Aubrey and
Rowe. we nave really the information
which is material, that which describes
character and fortune; that which if
we were about to meet the man and
deal with him would most import us
10 know. We have his recorded con-
vIctions on those questions which
KNOCK Tor answer at every heart-on
HE and death and love, on wealth and
poverty. on the prizes of life. and the
way whereby we come at them: on the
character of men and the influences
occult and open, which affect their for.
tunes. and on those mysterious and
demoniaca1 powers which DEFY our sci
ence and which yet intervene their
malice and their gift in our brightest
hours.
w no ever read the volume of the
sonnets without finding that the poet
had there revealed under masks that
are no MASKS TO the intelligent th.
lore of friendship and of love: the con
fusion of sentiments in the most sus-