1 1 8 Skakspeare 



the deep " — for seeking his fortune elsewhere ; 

 which he did in 1585 or 1586.* 



Remembrance in mature age of the bitter 

 fruits of his own indiscretions in the flush of 

 turbulent youth might well put real feeling into 

 the protests against the reckless behaviour of 

 " boiled brains of nineteen " which the Old 

 Shepherd makes in Winter's Tale. 



I would there was no age between sixteen and three-and- 

 twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest ; for there is 

 nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wrong- 

 ing the ancientry, stealing, fighting. 



That " between " is no long space within a length 

 of life, yet many an one safe in haven at the 

 close of life's toil and turmoil, looking back in 

 reflective survey of his course — its haps and 

 mishaps, its checks and chances — might see good 

 reason to bless and praise the kind fortune 

 which then frustrated a folly, cancelled an error, 

 contrived the right turn or the happy accident 



* Either observation or experience had certainly impressed 

 him deeply with the sequent miseries of a forced marriage — 

 For what is wedlock forced but a hell, 

 An age of discord and continual strife ? — 



Hejuy IV., Act v., Scene v. 

 Again, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act v., Scene v., Fenton 

 speaking : — 



" You would have married her most shamefully where there 

 was no proportion held in love . . . therein she doth 

 evitate.a thousand irreligious cursed hours which forced mar- 

 riage would have brought upon her.'" 



