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214 FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES
deed," or to "act on the stage." And the double
sense of the word " Free-will " is this : With the
emphasis on the first "
syllable, Free'-will," it
would signify mental freedom only ; but, as in the line
quoted, an accent is purposely placed upon
the last
syllable, thus " Free-will'/' we must take it that in this
case "freedom of will" could only be the secondary
meaning, the primary signification of the word
"
here intended to be conveyed being free Will,
bold, forward William,"* a play upon the Christian
name of that " Pilate " whom Bacon and Ben Jonson
had in mind.
Summa Summarum. The beginning of e Book
of Essays, the last printed work which Bac.jn gave
us just before he departed this life, if properly under
stood, conveys the following idea :
"'What is Truth?' said the actor Shakespeare
(Shakspere), and would not wait for an answer.
Doubtless, there are those who delight in being deceived
and to whom a settled belief were a mental restraint,
a shackle, maintaining, as they do, that the bold William
is as good a thinker (poet), as he is an actor."
The last part of the whole Book, the allusion to the
" Circle of Tales" which Francis Bacon had written,
* It is well known how fond the English are, and always have
been, of punning, and " Will " (Bill) seems to have been a favourite
name, as it lends itself so well to that purpose.
Thus we have an old saying
:
" Will is a good sonne and Will is a shrewde boy,
And wilfull shrewde Will had won thee this toy."
And in the 13601 Shakespeare-Sonnet we find :
" Will will fulfil the treasure of thy love."