Chapter I: Preface

It would be a flagrant presumption and a specimen of magnificent audacity for any man, but myself, to attempt, to give anything new about the personal and literary character of William Shakspere!

I speak of William as I knew him, child, boy and man, from a spiritual standpoint, living with him in soul-lit love for three hundred and forty years!

Those who doubt my dates, facts and veracity are to be pitied, and have little appreciation of romantic poetry, comedy, tragedy and history!

It is well known among my intimate friends, that I sprang from the race of Strulbugs, who live forever, originating on the island of Immortality, on the coast of Japan--more than a million years ago.

I do not give the name of the play, act or scene, in head or foot lines, in my numerous quotations from Shakspere, designedly leaving the reader to trace and find for himself a liberal education by studying the wisdom of the Divine Bard.

There are many things in this volume that the ordinary mind will not understand, yet I only contract with the present and future generations to give rare and rich food for thought, and cannot undertake to furnish the reader brains with each book!

J. A. J.

CONTENTS.

Page
Sweepstakes ix

CHAPTER I. Birth. School Days. Shows 1

CHAPTER II. Launched. Apprentice Boy. Ambition 11

CHAPTER III. Farm. Life. Sporting. Poaching on Lucy 19

CHAPTER IV. In Search of Peace and Fortune 27

CHAPTER V. London. Its Guilt and Glory 37

CHAPTER VI. Taverns. Theatres. Variegated Society 45

CHAPTER VII. Theatrical Drudgery. Compositions 53

CHAPTER VIII. Growing Literary Renown. Royal Patrons 61

CHAPTER IX. Bohemian Hours. Westminster Abbey. "Love's Labor's Lost" 73

CHAPTER X. Queen Elizabeth. War. Shakspere in Ireland 82

CHAPTER XI. Rural England. "Romeo and Juliet" 91

CHAPTER XII. "Julius Caesar" 110

CHAPTER XIII. Two Tramps. By Land and Sea 130

CHAPTER XIV. Windsor Park. "Midsummer Night's Dream" 156

CHAPTER XV. The Jew. Shylock. "Merchant of Venice" 175

CHAPTER XVI. The Supernatural. "Hamlet" 202

CHAPTER XVII. Death of Queen Elizabeth. Coronation of King James 233

CHAPTER XVIII. Shakspere as Monologist. King James 244