download PDF version: 47.1MB - Global Grey

FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES 175
The Essay, " Of Travaile " (new in
1625), does not
omit to advise young people travelling abroad for
educational purposes to attend " Comedies, Such
whereunto the better Sort of persons doe resort."
The Essay, "Of Empire," 1625, considerably en
larged, is closely related to the Shakespeare Histories.
Like those, he treats princes as " Heavenly Bodies "
The new inter
that bring about good and evil times.
polations contain no fewer than three allusions to the
titles of dramas. Henry the Eighth is set to rhyme ;
Edward the Second occurs in a set of verses with a
four-fold jingle rhyme written in the old ballad style of
the time of Edward the Second; finally "the three
Sonnes of Henry the Second" (King John and his
brothers) are mentioned. The first rhyme
During that Triumvirate
of Kings, King Henry the Eight . . .
runs thus :
That on Edward (a tragedy published under
Marlowe's name) :
Edward the Second of England',
his Queen, had the principall hand,
in the Deposing and
Murther of her husband'.
This manner of emphasising the words " England' "
and "Husband"' is, as we before said, intended, as
such as we hear over
being in the old-fashioned style,
and over again in the old ballads :
Or:
Ne for the gold of all
England'
The Douglas wold not break his word.
Throughout merry England',
Where we might find a messenger
Betweene us two to sende.