Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/108

 92 BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES Chapel, a well-trained, well-established, and popular company, who shared the Blackfriars with the Lord Chamberlain's servants. It is a satire on the cour- tiers of the day, infected with the high-flown, fantastic, and pedantic affectations of euphuism made fashion- able by John Lyly. II In the first year of the seventeenth century we find " Bengemy " employed by Henslowe in writing addi- tions to " Jeronymo," and Alleyn advancing him forty shillings on account of them. As Gifford remarks, had the records of any other theatres been preserved, we should probably have found the name of our poet among their supporters, for he must have produced much more at this time than has reached us. In this same year the " Poetaster " was brought out, also at the Blackfriars and by the children of the Queen's Chapel. In this play Marston and Decker were satirised, under the names of Crispinus and Demetrius. Jonson, in the " Apologetical Dialogue" affixed to the piece, thus vindicates and explains his purpose — The law and lawyers, captains and the players, By their particular names. Author. It is not so. I used no name. My books have still been taught To spare the persons and to speak the vices. Sure I am, three years They did provoke me with their petulant styles. On every stage : and I at last, unwilling, But weary, I confess, of so much trouble,
 * ' Poly poms. Why, they say you taxed