"Undoubtedly," said I.
"And the Sonnets were dedicated by the publisher to 'W. H.,' who is styled 'the onlie begetter of these ensuing Sonnets.'"
"Well?"
"The publisher must have known who the author was."
"Very likely."
"And in referring to the 'onlie begetter,' he clearly implies that the authorship was claimed by many, and in furnishing no more than the initials of 'the onlie begetter,' he indicates that the real author had reasons for concealing the authorship."
"That may be so."
"Well, why should a man desire to conceal his authorship of such exquisite sonnets—sonnets of whose surpassing excellence he himself is so convinced that he writes—
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this,
—unless the Sonnets contained matter likely to bring him into trouble? For instance, if a man had, in the fervour of his youth, poured out such warm expression of his love as the Sonnets contain, and very earnestly desired, later on in life, to marry another lady, he might be anxious then that the authorship of the Sonnets should be temporarily forgotten. But Bacon never did marry. And Shakespeare married young, and deserted his wife; and she survived his death. Therefore, no such motive for secrecy could have affected Bacon or Shakespeare."