And what love can do, that dares love attempt.
—Romeo and Juliet, ii, 2.
Whoever loved that loved not at first sight.
—Hero and Leander.
Love me little, love me long.
—Jew of Malta, iv.
With love and patience let your true love die.
—II Tamburlaine, ii, 4.
‘Poor Poet-Ape, that would be thought our chief,
Whose works are e’en the frippery of wit,
From brockage is become so bold a thief,
As we, the robbed, leave rage, and pity it.’
* * * * *
He marks not whose ’twas first; and after-times
May judge it to be his, as well as ours.
Fool! as if half eyes will not know a fleece
From locks of wool, or shreds from the whole piece!
—Ben. Jonson.”
“Then following this exhibition, Jonson said, ’Thou hast not yet begun to put thyself forward publicly as a dramatist, Mr. Shakespere, for I notice that Titus Andronicus has been printed with no name of author on the title page. Art thou afraid of acknowledging it? Edward II is also out, but Marlowe’s name is on it’ [[notes 27 and 28]]. At this I turned upon him and said, ‘I like not thy insinuations; and thy questions are impertinent. It is too plain that this rejection of my play is due to your influence. Some one is blind to his own interests, and that is you, Henslowe.’ The latter did not stir, and I continued, ‘I know what enormous profits have been reaped upon plays of this character, and there are other theatrical managers, thank God! in London.’”
“Good,” exclaimed Peele.
“And what manager hadst thou in mind,” asked Marlowe.
“Myself,” said Shakespere, quietly.
“Thou!” exclaimed the others.