"If it is so, please your Majesty, I did not," he returned.
"'Fore Heaven, then, thou hadst a great loss. You heard of it? peradventure."
"Truly, your Majesty, we hear not of such matters in Warwickshire as these your London plays," said Sir Thomas drily.
"But you have heard of Master Shakespeare, and seen his verse? Nay, methinks you must have seen his verse."
Sir Thomas coughed (he glanced at her Majesty in order to see if she was bantering him), "His verse, your Majesty," he said.
"Truly so," said the Queen. "How like you Master Shakespeare's verse, Sir Thomas."
"Very scurvily, in verity, what I have seen of it, that is to say. Ahem!"
"That is singular," said the Queen. "Methinks there could hardly be a double opinion upon Master Shakespeare's verse. It is most exquisite and unmatchable."
"I cannot say I have seen anything I particularly admire in it nevertheless," said Sir Thomas, drily.
"What verse have you seen?" inquired the Queen. "Can you repeat a stanza?"