Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/356

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. HI. APRIL is, 1905.

anything more. I should like, however, to say, in reference to MR. BAYLEY'S reminder as to "Shakespeare's" love of field sports, that of course, if we assume, as Vice- Chancellor Madden does in his charming romance, that the plays were written by Shakespeare of Stratford, there is plenty of evidence in them that he was a gentle follower of them. But if we assume that, then there is an end of all discussion. That is the whole point. But, without that assumption, there is no particle of evidence to show that the Stratford youth had any knowledge of, or love for, field sports of any kind, unless it be the tradition which connects him with poaching forays in the Charlcote preserves. And this tradition is, I believe, generally repudiated by his admirers. Field sports were certainly not amongst the accomplish- ments proper to the class whence the Strat- ford actor sprang, and it is difficult to see how in his busy afterlife he could obtain a knowledge of them. The field sports argu- ment, therefore, is to me another perplexity, except on the hypothesis of the Baconian authorship. Bacon, who included hunting, hawking, fishing, and the like amongst his "omne scibile," would, of course, know all about these pursuits theoretically ; whilst his social position and surroundings would necessarily have familiarized him with the practice of them. They were in his days an indispensable part of a gentleman's education.

To ME. CLARK I would say that, whilst glad to find my reading of the figure inscription corroborated by Mr. Pitt-Lewis, I did not take it from that gentleman, and I am myself alone responsible for it. I cannot, however, regard that corroboration as any the less valuable because of some trifling, and, as it appears to me, unimportant clerical error which that learned writer (working under difficulties, as he has explained) may have made. But, whilst correcting another, MR. CLARK has fallen into error himself. He says that the figure lines are addressed to " William Shake- speare the poet." They are inscribed "To the Reader." He also says " the other tribute" (the memorial verses) is meant for the "poet and actor." For the "poet" beyond doubt, but for the "actor," query] That is the whole point in question.

I could say much more on the subject of my doubts, which have been rather increased than diminished by the replies (however able and well-intentioned) made to remove them. The subject is fascinating, and I am seeking for light, which, however, at present only seems to come to me from one direction.

JOHN HUTCHINSON.

While I am unable to answer MR. Hur- CHINSON'S question, "Who was the gentle Shakespeare?" I can meet it with another and cognate one. Who was " Shakespeare nostras'"? Perhaps the answer to one ques- tion will involve the answer to the other. The well-known note on Shakespeare in Ben Jonson's ' Discoveries ' is headed " De Shake- speare nostrat." In it he says that he loved the man and honoured his memory, on this side idolatry, as much as any, but that he flowed, in his fantasy, brave notions and gentle expressions with that facility that sometimes it was necessary he should be stopped (snuffed out) ; but that he redeemed his vices with his virtues, and there was ever more in him to be praised than to be pardoned.

This is damning with faint praise indeed, and is rather different from Jonson's descrip- tion of the "gentle Shakespeare" : " Soul of the age, the applause, delight, the wonder of our stage ! " and his apostrophe, " Leave thee alone, for the comparison of all that insolent Greece and haughty Rome sent forth, or since did from their ashes come," which, by the way, is exactly the phrase he applies to Francis Bacon. But what does he mean by "Shakespeare nostras "? There would be no meaning in calling him "our countryman " ; his nationality was not in question, nor was it pertinent. "Nostras" must be intended in the sense of "our fellow," " one of us." Hence we discover a well-marked antithesis between the "gentle Shakespeare" and "Shakespeare nostras." What explanation can be given of this, if they are the same man 1 QUIRINUS.

NAMES OF LETTERS (10 th S. iii. 228, 277). May I correct at once a misprint in PROF. BENSLY'S useful reply ? The words are printed, " In the same way it was distinguished from oi, sounded like it." Obviously "it was" should be "v was." W. H.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL QUERIES (10 th S. iii. 227). Bibliography is not yet ranked among the exact sciences, nor is its terminology satis- factorily settled ; but having worked a little in the field which COL. WALKER is cultivating, I will venture to offer my personal views on the questions raised by him.

1. I do not consider that any date can be fixed at which the old definitions, 4to, 8vo, &c., can be taken either as sufficient or the reverse. While it is very desirable that the actual measurements of a book should be given, the collation in sheets should not be omitted in works either of ancient or of modern date. If, for instance, there are eight leaves in a sheet, the book is in octavo, and