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FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES
(saith Pyrrhus) if the Gods favour us," and the
questions of the statesman becoming shorter, lead up
to the " Nay," expressing astonishment, terminating in
a long line rhyming to the previous and following
ones. Then follow the still more pathetic words of
Pyrrhus with their profuse rhyme.
(N.B. "rest-feast"
is as perfect a rhyme as " beast-rest," etc., in the Plays.)
Finally the sorrowful "Alas," uttered by " Cineas,"
followed up by that serio-comic question terminating
the dialogue.
I need scarcely mention that now *' ado "
constitute a perfect rhyme besides " ; these, do " and
" "
so play a part in rhyming with " now."
In his " Discoveries," when speaking of the great
orators, Ben Jonson names Francis Bacon as the
greatest. These are the very words he uses :
Yet there happen'd in my time one noble Speaker, who was
full of gravity in his speaking. His Language (where he could
spare, or pass by a Jest) was noMy censorious. No man ever
spake more neatly, more prestly, more weightily, or suffer'd
less emptiness, less idleness, in what he utter'd. No Member
of his Speech, but consisted of his own Graces. His Hearers
could not cough, or look aside from him, without loss. He
commanded where he spoke ;
and had his Judges angry and
pleased at his Devotion. No Man had their Affections more in
his power. The fear of every Man that heard him, was, lest be
should make an end.
If Bacon's speeches in Parliament called forth such
eulogy, how much more must that man have earned
praise for his words of brilliant wit and sparkling
humour, for his table-talk cast into the golden mould of
perfect rhetoric, with which he delighted his guests.
We may be sure, not one eye but followed his every