Shakespeare and Architecture 



came before him every day of his life, some ex- 

 planation does seem to be required. But can we 

 in any way explain this omission, or the other 

 omissions? As to the dog, we may wish that he 

 had taken a more pleasant view of him, but it is 

 quite certain that it was not owing to want of 

 love for animals, or want of kindness. The man 

 who wrote much and lovingly of so many animals, 

 beasts, birds, fishes, and insects ; the man who 

 could say — 



" The poor beetle that we tread upon 

 In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great 

 As when a giant dies " — 



must have had a tender heart for all animals. It 

 is probable that he had a physical antipathy to 

 the dog, just as others have to a cat or to 

 snakes :- — 



" Some men there are love not a gaping pig, 

 Some that are mad if they behold a cat." 



And there we may leave it. His omission of 

 tobacco may be explained in almost the same 

 way. Some have suggested that the omission 

 was a compliment to the King. But Shake- 

 speare was not a man to allow his writings to be 

 shackled by any such overstrained courtesy, and 

 many as loyal to the King as he was spoke freely 

 of tobacco, and most of the plays and poems 

 were written before James came to the throne. 

 I should suppose that he was not a smoker, and 

 perhaps did not like it ; but he had many friends 

 217 



