Shaksperean literature still lacks a book on the personal life of William Shakspere that shall be to most, if not all others, a pruning hook cutting out the rever ies and guess work which unfortunately have seduced the historian and misled the reader. We hold in our hand one of the more recent of these books of fictitious biography, transmissive "fraud of the imagination" which authenticates nothing!

As co-readers, we will now focus our attention and thoughts intently upon the celebrated letter written by the dying hand of Robert Greene, and addressed to three brother poets to whom he administers a gentle reproof on account of their by-gone and present faults, of which, play-writing was most to be shunned. This remarkable letter reveals Robert Greene as the most tragical figure of his time-a sad witness of his ultimate penitence and absolute confession, a character of pathetic sincerity, weirdness and charnellike gloom that chills the soul. This let

ter, so often referred to, and seemingly so little understood, is one of the most extraordinary pieces of writing in our literary annals. It has all the credibility that a dying statement can give, but it also evidences the fact that Robert Greene had previously drawn the fire of the improvising actors "who wrought the disfigurement of the poet's work." There is one in particular at whom he hurls a dart and hits the mark.

"Yes, trust them not; for there is an "upstart crow, beautified with our (po"et's) feathers, that, with his Tyger's "heart wrapt in a Player's hide, supposes "he is as well able to bombast out a "blanke verse as the best of you; and be"ing an absolute 'Johannes Factotum,' is "in his own conceit, the onely Shake"scene in a countrie.”

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This sorrow-stricken man wrote these words of censure with the utmost sincerity. Earlier biographers made no attempt to read Shakspere into these lines of reproof, but those only of later times regard

the allusion invaluable as being the first literary notice of Shakspere, and find pleasure in reading into Shakspere's life the fact of his having been satirized in 1592 under the name "Shake-scene," used by Greene contumeliously.

The letter is contained in a little work entitled "Greene's Groats Worth of Wit," "Bought with a Million of Repentance, originally published in 1592, having been entered at Stationers Hall on the 20th of September in that year." "To those Gentlemen his Quondam acquaintance, that spend their wits in making Plaies."

"With thee (Marlowe) will I first be"gin, thou famous gracer of tragedians, "that Greene, who hath said with thee, "like the foole in his heart, there is no "God, should now give glorie unto His "greatnesse; for penetrating is His "power, His hand lies heavy upon me, He "hath spoken unto me with a voice of "thunder and I have felt He is a God that "can punish enemies. Why should thy

"excellent wit, His gift, be so blinded that "thou shouldst give no glory to the "giver?".

"With thee I joyne young Juvenall, "(Nash) that byting satyrist that lastlie "with mee together writ a comedie. "Sweete boy, might I advise thee, be ad"vised, and get not many enimies by bit"ter words Blame not schol"lers vexed with sharp lines, if they re"prove thy too much libertie of reproofe."

"And thou (Peele) no less deserving "than the other two, in some things rarer, "in nothing inferiour; driven (as my"selfe) to extreame shifts; a little have "I to say to thee; and were it not an idol"atrous oath, I would swear by sweet S. "George thou are unworthie better hap, "sith thou dependest on so meane a stay.

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(theatre) Base minded men all three of "you, if by my miserie ye be not warned; "for unto none of you, like me, sought "those burrs to cleave; those puppits, I "meane, that speake from our mouths, "those anticks garnisht in our colours. Is

"it not strange that I, to whom they all "have been beholding, is it not like that "you to whom they all have beene behold"ing, shall, were ye in that case that I am "now, be both at once of them forsaken? "Yes, trust them not; for there is an up"start crow, beautified with our feathers, "that, with his Tyger's heart wrapt in a "Player's hide, supposes he is as well able "to bombast out a blanke verse as the best "of you; and being an absolute 'Johannes "Factotum,' is in his own conceit the "onely Shake-scene in a countrie.”

"But now returne I againe to you "three, knowing my miserie is to you no "news; and let me heartily entreate you to "be warned by my harmes

For "it is a pittie men of such rare wits "should be subject to the pleasures of such rude groomes.

Those biographers and critics who have written concerning Shakspere and Greene misapprehensively compound an integrate letter and pamphlet. It should be made clear that Greene's letter to his fel