1 64 Shakspeare 



on his side will bear without his help all the blots 

 that remain from it and never say a word to tell 

 of their old familiar converse : — 



My name be buried where my body is 

 And live no more to shame nor you nor me. 



What brand other than the disesteem, if any, of 

 his occupation as a common player vulgar scandal 

 stamped on Shakspeare's name it is bootless to 

 guess, unless it were scandal or slander arising out 

 of participation in his friend's profligate proceed- 

 ings. However loose the morals of the time and 

 place, some blame — was there no warrant for 

 blame ? — might haply light on the mature hus- 

 band who, leaving his wife and children to live 

 asunder at Stratford, wasted misplaced affection 

 on a wanton mistress whom, though it was " a 

 sin to love," he " loved dearly." Be that as it 

 may, what is plain is that something in his situa- 

 tion prevented equal social intercourse with his 

 noble patrons, and not only debarred him of 

 " public honours and proud titles," as he declares 

 or deplores, but for some reason or other kept 

 him out of such society as his poetical fellows of 

 inferior genius enjoyed freely. His contemporary 

 Alleyn, an eminent player, who was the munificent 

 founder of Dulwich College, occupied a good social 

 position, entertaining persons of rank and learn- 

 ing ; Marlowe, his master of the " mighty line " 

 of heroic verse, was the welcome guest of Sir 

 Thomas Walsingham at his country house and on 

 friendly terms with Sir Walter Raleigh. His 



