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204 FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES
Qui de contemnenda Gloria Libros scribunt, Nomen
suum inscribunt.
(Who while they write books on the despising of fame,
even put their names to them.)
For such cases, Bacon recommends the interposing
of persons, who in their false ambition, in their vain
glory accept the post and act as the trumpeters of fame.
That the word " Trumpetters " is used with reference
to the theatre is a fact everybody will know who
remembers that trumpet-signals, blown by the actors
from the top of the public theatre, drew the Londoners
to the theatre and announced the commencement of
the play, just as is done now at Bayreuth and Munich
during the Wagner performances. And everything
is written in words that
touching upon the subject
rhyme, and which clearly have reference to the title of
the Comedy, Much Ado about Nothing. Else what
were the drift of the following passages
:
According to the French Proverb ; Beaucoup de Bruit, peu
de Fruit : Much Bruit, little Fruit. Yet certainly there is Use
of this Qualitie (of Vaine-Glory), in Civill Affaires. Where
there is an Opinion, and Fame to be created, either of Vertue,
or Greatnesse, these Men are good Trumpetters.
With the exception of a few lines, which simply
clamour for rhyme, all the verses end in perfect rhymes,
more than half on the vowel " " i and "uit," fewer on
" ers," for " Affaires " forms a perfect rhyme with the
final syllable of the word "Trumpetters," and also
with "there's." The following verses and rhymes are
what Bacon intended us to hear :
(Of Vaine-Glory)
According to the French Proverb ; (? !)