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FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES 169
an Essay, indeed, and one which any other commenta
tor than the discreet Bacon would have superscribed
with the :
heading " Of Anthony's Love." The state
ment that love ever speaks in hyperboles more
is,
over, the very keynote to the love-scenes between
Romeo and Juliet. Mind, heart, and soul of those
young lovers is permeated with one thought, the
thought of love all else is ;
forgotten, love absorbs
them wholly, and thus they march blindly on towards
their doom.
The Twelfth Essay
is
entitled " Of Boldnesse," and
is assimilated to that " Of Envy," inasmuch as it is
the next entirely new Essay in the book. Whereas
the latter treats of the " "
bringing-on-to-the-stage of
a dummy, we learn from the former why, under certain
circumstances, an actor, rather than any other, should
be the person best fitted for that office. We are told
that Action and Boldnesse are the virtues "of a
Player." And now, for the first time, the Essay-
Book relates a little story, that would have done just
as well among the anecdotes, for, besides being pro
fusely rhymed, the author indulges in burlesque rhyme,
in keeping with the character of the subject treated of.
As usual, the story is printed in prose :
Nay you shall see a Bold Fellow, many times, doe Mahomet's
Miracle. Mahomet made the People beleeve, that he would
call an Hill to him ;
And from the Top of it, offer up his Praiers,
for the Observers of his Law. The People assembled ;
Mahomet cald the Hill to come to him, againe, and againe ;
And when the Hill stood still, he was never a whit abashed,
but said ;
If the Hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will
go to the hil.
The whole is
a jest in rhyme.
" Mahom/et " having
5't !