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been hurling darts of sharpest derision and scorn at
old Polonius, changes, and simply beams with hilarity
and amiableness, the instant the actors are there.
And, as his object
is to reveal the murder, the prince
himself it is who, with the hand of the adept, so recasts
the old play to be performed as to bring in
the scene
which he requires for his purpose. Hamlet also, like
and a man who
Bacon, is at once a concealed poet
remodels old plays and interpolates parts to suit his
end.
The next of the new Essays of the year 1625
is the
ninth, entitled " Of Envy," a word we have already met
with in the concluding part of the " Essay, Of Death."
In order to escape envy, one at times disguises one's
name.
Here we find the same thought expressed in
a clearer form, however, in as far as the character of
the person employed as the best decoy
is described in
detail.
For the principal section of the whole Essay (which,
moreover affords us a great deal of information on the
plays) is that in which the word " Stage " occurs :
As we said in the beginning, that the Act of Enuy, had
somewhat in it,
of Witchcraft; so there is no other Cure of
Enuy, but the cure of Witchcraft. And that is, to remoue the
Lot (as they call it)
and to lay it upon another. For which
purpose, the wiser Sort of great Persons, bring in ever upon
the Stage, some Body, upon whom to derive the Enuie, that
would come upon themselues ;
Sometimes upon Ministers and
Servants ;
Sometimes upon Colleagues and Associates ;
and the
like ;
And for that turne, there are never wanting, some Persons
of violent and undertaking Natures, who so they may have
Power, and Businesse, will take it at any Cost.
The expression "to remove the Lot" is used in cases