Transcriber's Note.
A list of the changes made can be found at the end of the book.
Formatting and special characters are indicated as follows:
_italic_
_{subscript}
^{superscript}
[=i] i with macron
[)i] i with inverted breve
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
_PLAYER, POET, AND PLAYMAKER_
[Illustration]
[Illustration: W. Heydemann, Sc.
EDWARD ALLEYN.]
A CHRONICLE HISTORY
OF THE
LIFE AND WORK
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
_PLAYER, POET, AND PLAYMAKER_
BY
FREDERICK GARD FLEAY
With Two Etched Illustrations.
LONDON
JOHN C. NIMMO
14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.
1886
[_All rights reserved_]
Dedication.
TO
THE SHAKESPEARE OF OUR DAYS,
_ROBERT BROWNING_,
A PERMITTED TRIBUTE
FROM
HIS EVER-DEVOTED LIEGEMAN,
FREDERICK GARD FLEAY.
To him, whose craft, so subtly terse,
(While lesser minds, for music's sake,
From single thoughts whole cantos make),
Includes a poem in a verse;--
To him, whose penetrative art,
With spheric knowledge only his,
Dissects by keen analysis
The wiliest secrets of the heart;--
To him, who rounds us perfect wholes,
Where wisdom, wit, and love combine;
Chief praise be this:--he wrote no line
That could cause pain in childlike souls.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION 1
SECTION I.
THE PUBLIC CAREER OF SHAKESPEARE 7