human
Your Majesty will understand, said Lord Revel (who was something of a fop),
gpt
I have not, he replied,
human
Go to, said the Queen, in answer to some remark of Sir Philip Sydney's.
gpt
Those matters, Sir Philip, were good, but here be better. Didst thou witness the former play of this man's writing, Sir Thomas Lucy?
human
If it is so, please your Majesty, I did not,
gpt
Truly, your Majesty, we hear not of such matters in Warwickshire as these your London plays,
human
But you have heard of Master Shakespeare, and seen his verse? Nay, methinks you must have seen his verse.
gpt
His verse, your Majesty,
human
Truly so, said the Queen.
gpt
How like you Master Shakespeare's verse, Sir Thomas.
human
Very scurvily, in verity, what I have seen of it, that is to say. Ahem!
gpt
That is singular, said the Queen.
human
Methinks there could hardly be a double opinion upon Master Shakespeare's verse. It is most exquisite and unmatchable.
gpt
I cannot say I have seen anything I particularly admire in it nevertheless,
human
What verse have you seen? inquired the Queen.
gpt
Can you repeat a stanza?
human
Ahem! Your Majesty, said Sir Thomas,
gpt
I am not altogether good at repeating poetry. I like it not. Sir Philip Sydney was about to observe something,--he understands these matters.
human
I am but saying to my Lord of Leicester, said Sir Philip,
gpt
By my fay, Sir Philip, said the Queen,
human
Truly so, your Majesty, said Sir Philip, who was rather affected in his ordinary style.
gpt
Doubtless such sights are edifying, but then of time, madam,--of time,--we must be even more liberal, for look ye, if (as is not uncommon) two royal persons fall in love, we may see these lovers become parents of a chubby boy. Then, your Majesty, such boy becomes stolen and lost, and after many traverses he groweth to man's estate, falleth in love in time, and _in time_ is ready to marry and all this (an it so please ye) in some two hours' space.
human
Nay, Sir Philip, saith the Queen,
gpt
Scene during the greater part of the play in Verona; once in ye-fifthe act, at Mantua, a flourish of trumpets meantime rung out as the stage was displayed, and one dressed in character as
human
Prologue,
gpt
Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows Do, with their death, bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents's rage Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage: The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
human
Methinks, my Lord of Essex, said the Queen, who had listened with great interest to the words,
gpt
Master Prologue promiseth well. Marked you how much was contained in those few lines? And lo, here begins the piece.