THE MERMAID CLUB.
The celebrated club at the “Mermaid,” as has been well observed by Gifford, “combined more talent and genius, perhaps, than ever met together before or since.” The institution originated with Sir Walter Raleigh; and here, for many years, Ben Jonson regularly repaired with Shakspeare, Beaumont, Fletcher, Selden, Cotton, Carew, Martin, Donne, and many others whose names, even at this distant period, call up a mingled feeling of reverence and respect. Here, in the full flow and confidence of friendship, the lively and interesting “wit-combats” took place between Shakspeare and Jonson; and hither, in probable allusion to some of them, Beaumont fondly lets his thoughts wander in his letter to Johnson from the country:—
“What things have we seen
Done at the Mermaid? heard words that have been
So nimble, and so full of subtle flame,
As if that every one from whom they came,
Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest.”
For the expression, “wit-combats,” we must refer to Fuller, who in his “Worthies,” describing the character of the Bard of Avon, says: “Many were the wit-combats between Shakspeare and Ben Jonson. I behold them like a Spanish great galleon, and an English man-of-war. Master Jonson, like the former, was built far higher in learning, solid, but slow in his performances; Shakspeare, like the latter, less in bulk but lighter in sailing, could turn with all tides, tack about and take advantage of all winds, by the quickness of his wit and invention.” With what delight would after generations have hung over any well-authenticated instances of these “wit-combats!” But, unfortunately, nothing on which we can depend has descended to us.