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FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES 173
comedian, from what Ben Jonson says in his " Dis
coveries," in which he tells us that the player Shakspere
was inclined to improvise and add particularly
comic speeches of his own, so that at times one felt
like putting an extinguisher on to him (literally "he
:
should be stop'd ").
The first nine Essays having gone
so far in the
facts they reveal as to speak finally of "bringing
another person on to the stage," the Essay, " Of
Love," introduced us into a Shakespeare tragedy, the
Essay, " Of Boldnesse," into a merry " Satyre."
The next Essay (which was not new in 1625) dis
creetly sounds another title of a Shakespeare Play :
Timon. The first edition had suppressed that word,
which the second one, dated 1612, names for
the first
time.
The Essay, " Of Seditions and Troubles," most
excellently characterises the corresponding proceed
ings in the Shakespeare Histories. " Fame " (Report,
Rumour) is called a "Prelude" to the political dis
turbances " ;
Rumour " (Fama) enters and speaks the
" Prologue
" in the Second Part of King Henry the
Fourth, where the king has to fight against the rising
Barons. The " four Pillars of Government " are
spoken of; in Henry
the Sixth "Pillars of the
State " is the term used, both terms meaning the
chief Counsellors of the King. Among the new
additions
to the last edition we find another " Spearsimile
" :
Surely, Princes had need, in tender Matters, and Ticklish
Times, to beware what they say ; Especially in these short
Speeches, which flie abroad like Darts, and are thought to be
shot out of their secret Intentions.