Apart from this, the phrases in the passage in question which are common to both poets were not new at the date Pope wrote.
“Silver fountain” is in the Shakespeare Play of Richard II., Act 5, Sc. 3; “hoary-headed” in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 2, Sc. 1; and “Titan rays” in Titus Andronicus, Act 1, Sc. 2.
May I humbly correct your “leader”?
The Cipher not only mentions a marriage ceremony in the Tower, but a ceremony in September after the death of Dudley’s wife, at a time when, according to Mother Dowe, of Brentwood (see “Calendar of State Papers for August, 1560”), marriage was very necessary.
The Cipher does not say it took Francis four decades of interval to get over his affection for Margaret of Navarre, but that: “Not until four decades or eight lustres o’ life were outlived did I take any other to my sore heart. Then I married”—that is to say, did not marry until after his 40th year.
If Mr. Marston had imitated the caution of Mr. W. H. Mallock, instead of rushing into print directly he believed himself in a position to impugn Mrs. Gallup’s bona fides, your leader writer would have been less fluttered.
Yours obediently,
Parker Woodward.
King-street, Nottingham.
FRANCIS BACON AND THE CIPHER.
To the Editor of the Times: