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Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 29

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XXIX. SHAKESPEARE’S FAME EXTENDS TO CAMBRIDGE (1600).

Allusions in the First Part of The Return from Parnassus, a student comedy, representing undergraduate life at Cambridge.

We shall have nothing but pure Shakspeare and shreds of poetry that he hath gathered at the theatres. (Ll. 1009 f.)

Mark, Romeo and Juliet! O monstrous theft! (L. 1015.)

Gullio, an affected poetaster, recites six lines of Venus and Adonis, and Ingenioso remarks: Sweet Mr. Shakspeare! (Ll. 1018–24.)

Gullio asks Ingenioso to write a poem for him—

Ingen. My pen is your bounden vassal to command. But what vein would it please you to have them in?

Gull. Not in a vain vein (pretty, i’ faith!): make me them in two or three divers veins—in Chaucer’s, Gower’s, and Spenser’s and Mr. Shakspeare’s. Marry, I think I shall entertain those verses which run like these:

Even as the sun with purple colour’d face

Had ta’en his last leave on the weeping morn, &c.[1] O sweet Mr. Shakspeare! I’le have his picture in my study at the court. (LI. 1048–55.)

Later Gullio says, Let me hear Mr. Shakspear’s vein; and Ingenioso recites seven lines in imitation of Venus and Adonis. Gullio says:

No more! I am one that can judge according to the proverb, ‘bovem ex unguibus.’ Ay, marry, Sir, these have some life in them! Let this duncified world esteem of Spenser and Chaucer, I’ll worship sweet Mr. Shakspeare, and to honour him will lay his Venus and Adonis under my pillow, as we read of one (I do not well remember his name, but I am sure he was a king) slept with Homer under his bed’s head. (Ll. 1211–27.)



Footnotes

  1. Opening lines of Venus and Adonis, slightly misquoted.