第13章

justasabrightladlikeme，rearedinavillageonthebanksoftheMississippi，mightbecomeperfectinknowledgeoftheBeringStraitwhalefisheryandtheshoptalkoftheveteranexercisesofthatadventurebristlingtradethroughcatchingcatfishwitha"trotline"Sundays。ButthesurmiseisdamagedbythefactthatthereisnoevidenceandnoteventraditionthattheyoungShakespearewaseverclerkofalawcourt。

ItisfurthersurmisedthattheyoungShakespeareaccumulatedhislawtreasuresinthefirstyearsofhissojourninLondon，through"amusinghimself"bylearningbooklawinhisgarretandbypickinguplawyertalkandtherestofitthroughloiteringaboutthelawcourtsandlistening。Butitisonlysurmise;thereisnoEVIDENCEthatheeverdideitherofthosethings。TheyaremerelyacoupleofchunksofplasterofParis。

ThereisalegendthathegothisbreadandbutterbyholdinghorsesinfrontoftheLondontheaters，morningsandafternoons。Maybehedid。Ifhedid，itseriouslyshortenedhislawstudyhoursandhisrecreationtimeinthecourts。Inthoseverydayshewaswritinggreatplays，andneededallthetimehecouldget。Thehorseholdinglegendoughttobestrangled;ittooformidablyincreasesthehistorian’sdifficultyinaccountingfortheyoungShakespeare’seruditionaneruditionwhichhewasacquiring，hunkbyhunkandchunkbychunk，everydayinthosestrenuoustimes，andemptyingeachday’scatchintonextday’simperishabledrama。

Hehadtoacquireaknowledgeofwaratthesametime;andaknowledgeofsoldierpeopleandsailorpeopleandtheirwaysandtalk;alsoaknowledgeofsomeforeignlandsandtheirlanguages:

forhewasdailyemptyingfluentstreamsofthesevariousknowledges，too，intohisdramas。Howdidheacquiretheserichassets？

Intheusualway:bysurmise。ItisSURMISEDthathetraveledinItalyandGermanyandaround，andqualifiedhimselftoputtheirscenicandsocialaspectsuponpaper;thatheperfectedhimselfinFrench，Italian，andSpanishontheroad;

thathewentinLeicester’sexpeditiontotheLowCountries，assoldierorsutlerorsomething，forseveralmonthsoryearsorwhateverlengthoftimeasurmiserneedsinhisbusinessandthusbecamefamiliarwithsoldiershipandsoldierwaysandsoldiertalkandgeneralshipandgeneralwaysandgeneraltalk，andseamanshipandsailorwaysandsailortalk。

Maybehedidallthesethings，butIwouldliketoknowwhoheldthehorsesinthemeantime;andwhostudiedthebooksinthegarret;andwhofrolickedinthelawcourtsforrecreation。

Also，whodidthecallboyingandtheplayacting。

Forhebecameacallboy;andasearlyas’93hebecamea"vagabond"thelaw’sungentletermforanunlistedactor;andin’94a"regular"andproperlyandofficiallylistedmemberofthat（inthosedays）lightlyvaluedandnotmuchrespectedprofession。

Rightsoonthereafterhebecameastockholderintwotheaters，andmanagerofthem。Thenceforwardhewasabusyandflourishingbusinessman，andwasrakinginmoneywithbothhandsfortwentyyears。Theninanoblefrenzyofpoeticinspirationhewrotehisonepoemhisonlypoem，hisdarlingandlaidhimdownanddied:

GoodfriendforIesussakeforbeareTodiggthedustencloasedheare:

BlestbeyemanytsparesthesstonesAndcurstbeheytmovesmybones。

Hewasprobablydeadwhenhewroteit。Still，thisisonlyconjecture。Wehaveonlycircumstantialevidence。Internalevidence。

ShallIsetdowntherestoftheConjectureswhichconstitutethegiantBiographyofWilliamShakespeare？ItwouldstraintheUnabridgedDictionarytoholdthem。Heisabrontosaur:ninebonesandsixhundredbarrelsofplasterofParis。

V

"WeMayAssume"

IntheAssumingtradethreeseparateandindependentcultsaretransactingbusiness。TwoofthesecultsareknownastheShakespearitesandtheBaconians，andIamtheotheronetheBrontosaurian。

TheShakespeariteknowsthatShakespearewroteShakespeare’sWorks;theBaconianknowsthatFrancisBaconwrotethem;theBrontosauriandoesn’treallyknowwhichofthemdidit，butisquitecomposedlyandcontentedlysurethatShakespeareDIDN’T，andstronglysuspectsthatBaconDID。Weallhavetodoagooddealofassuming，butIamfairlycertainthatineverycaseI

cancalltomindtheBaconianassumershavecomeoutaheadoftheShakespearites。Bothpartieshandlethesamematerials，buttheBaconiansseemtometogetmuchmorereasonableandrationalandpersuasiveresultsoutofthemthanisthecasewiththeShakespearites。TheShakespeariteconductshisassuminguponadefiniteprinciple，anunchangingandimmutablelaw:whichis:

2and8and7and14，addedtogether，make165。Ibelievethistobeanerror。Nomatter，youcannotgetahabitsoddenShakespearitetocipheruphismaterialsuponanyotherbasis。

WiththeBaconianitisdifferent。Ifyouplacebeforehimtheabovefiguresandsethimtoaddingthemup，hewillneverinanycasegetmorethan45outofthem，andinninecasesoutoftenhewillgetjusttheproper31。

Letmetrytoillustratethetwosystemsinasimpleandhomelywaycalculatedtobringtheideawithinthegraspoftheignorantandunintelligent。Wewillsupposeacase:takealap

bred，housefed，uneducated，inexperiencedkitten;takearuggedoldTomthat’sscarredfromstemtorudderpostwiththememorialsofstrenuousexperience，andissocultured，soeducated，solimitlesslyeruditethatonemaysayofhim"allcatknowledgeishisprovince";also，takeamouse。Lockthethreeupinaholeless，crackless，exitlessprisoncell。Waithalfanhour，thenopenthecell，introduceaShakespeariteandaBaconian，andletthemcipherandassume。Themouseismissing:

thequestiontobedecidedis，whereisit？Youcanguessbothverdictsbeforehand。Oneverdictwillsaythekittencontainsthemouse;theotherwillascertainlysaythemouseisinthetomcat。

TheShakespearitewillReasonlikethis（thatisnotmyword，itishis）。HewillsaythekittenMAYHAVEBEENattendingschoolwhennobodywasnoticing;thereforeWEAREWARRANTEDIN

ASSUMINGthatitdidso;also，itCOULDHAVEBEENtraininginacourtclerk’sofficewhennoonewasnoticing;sincethatcouldhavehappened，WEAREJUSTIFIEDINASSUMINGthatitdidhappen;

itCOULDHAVESTUDIEDCATOLOGYINAGARRETwhennoonewasnoticingthereforeitDID;itCOULDHAVEattendedcatassizesontheshedroofnights，forrecreation，whennoonewasnoticing，andhaveharvestedaknowledgeofcatcourtformsandcatlawyer

talkinthatway:itCOULDhavedoneit，thereforewithoutadoubtitDID;itCOULDHAVEgonesoldieringwithawartribewhennoonewasnoticing，andlearnedsoldierwilesandsoldierways，andwhattodowithamousewhenopportunityoffers;theplaininference，therefore，isthatthatiswhatitDID。SinceallthesemanifoldthingsCOULDhaveoccurred，wehaveEVERYRIGHTTO

BELIEVEtheydidoccur。Thesepatientlyandpainstakinglyaccumulatedvastacquirementsandcompetencesneededbutonethingmoreopportunitytoconvertthemselvesintotriumphalaction。Theopportunitycame，wehavetheresult;BEYONDSHADOW

OFQUESTIONthemouseisinthekitten。

Itispropertoremarkthatwhenweofthethreecultsplanta"WETHINKWEMAYASSUME，"weexpectit，undercarefulwateringandfertilizingandtending，togrowupintoastrongandhardyandweatherdefying"THEREISN’TASHADOWOFADOUBT"atlast

anditusuallyhappens。

WeknowwhattheBaconian’sverdictwouldbe:"THEREISNOT

ARAGOFEVIDENCETHATTHEKITTENHASHADANYTRAINING，ANY

EDUCATION，ANYEXPERIENCEQUALIFYINGITFORTHEPRESENTOCCASION，ORISINDEEDEQUIPPEDFORANYACHIEVEMENTABOVELIFTINGSUCH

UNCLAIMEDMILKASCOMESITSWAY;BUTTHEREISABUNDANTEVIDENCE

UNASSAILABLEPROOF，INFACTTHATTHEOTHERANIMALISEQUIPPED，TOTHELASTDETAIL，WITHEVERYQUALIFICATIONNECESSARYFORTHE

EVENT。WITHOUTSHADOWOFDOUBTTHETOMCATCONTAINSTHEMOUSE。"

VI

WhenShakespearedied，in1616，greatliteraryproductionsattributedtohimasauthorhadbeenbeforetheLondonworldandinhighfavorfortwentyfouryears。Yethisdeathwasnotanevent。Itmadenostir，itattractednoattention。Apparentlyhiseminentliterarycontemporariesdidnotrealizethatacelebratedpoethadpassedfromtheirmidst。Perhapstheyknewaplayactorofminorrankhaddisappeared，butdidnotregardhimastheauthorofhisWorks。"Wearejustifiedinassuming"this。

HisdeathwasnotevenaneventinthelittletownofStratford。DoesthismeanthatinStratfordhewasnotregardedasacelebrityofANYkind？

"Weareprivilegedtoassume"no，weareindeedOBLIGEDtoassumethatsuchwasthecase。Hehadspentthefirsttwenty

twoortwentythreeyearsofhislifethere，andofcoursekneweverybodyandwasknownbyeverybodyofthatdayinthetown，includingthedogsandthecatsandthehorses。Hehadspentthelastfiveorsixyearsofhislifethere，diligentlytradingineverybigandlittlethingthathadmoneyinit;sowearecompelledtoassumethatmanyofthefolkthereinthosesaidlatterdaysknewhimpersonally，andtherestbysightandhearsay。ButnotasaCELEBRITY？Apparentlynot。Foreverybodysoonforgottorememberanycontactwithhimoranyincidentconnectedwithhim。Thedozensoftownspeople，stillalive，whohadknownofhimorknownabouthiminthefirsttwentythreeyearsofhislifewereinthesameunrememberingcondition:iftheyknewofanyincidentconnectedwiththatperiodofhislifetheydidn’ttellaboutit。Wouldtheiftheyhadbeenasked？Itismostlikely。Weretheyasked？Itisprettyapparentthattheywerenot。Whyweren’tthey？Itisaveryplausibleguessthatnobodythereorelsewherewasinterestedtoknow。

ForsevenyearsafterShakespeare’sdeathnobodyseemstohavebeeninterestedinhim。Thenthequartowaspublished，andBenJonsonawokeoutofhislongindifferenceandsangasongofpraiseandputitinthefrontofthebook。ThensilencefellAGAIN。

Forsixtyyears。TheninquiriesintoShakespeare’sStratfordlifebegantobemade，ofStratfordians。OfStratfordianswhohadknownShakespeareorhadseenhim？No。ThenofStratfordianswhohadseenpeoplewhohadknownorseenpeoplewhohadseenShakespeare？No。ApparentlytheinquireswereonlymadeofStratfordianswhowerenotStratfordiansofShakespeare’sday，butlatercomers;andwhattheyhadlearnedhadcometothemfrompersonswhohadnotseenShakespeare;andwhattheyhadlearnedwasnotclaimedasFACT，butonlyaslegend

dimandfadingandindefinitelegend;legendofthecalfslaughteringrank，andnotworthrememberingeitherashistoryorfiction。

Hasiteverhappenedbeforeorsincethatacelebratedpersonwhohadspentexactlyhalfofafairlylonglifeinthevillagewherehewasbornandreared，wasabletoslipoutofthisworldandleavethatvillagevoicelessandgossiplessbehindhimutterlyvoiceless。，utterlygossipless？Andpermanentlyso？

Idon’tbelieveithashappenedinanycaseexceptShakespeare’s。

Andcouldn’tandwouldn’thavehappenedinhiscaseifhehadbeenregardedasacelebrityatthetimeofhisdeath。

WhenIexaminemyowncasebutletusdothat，andseeifitwillnotberecognizableasexhibitingaconditionofthingsquitelikelytoresult，mostlikelytoresult，indeedsubstantiallySUREtoresultinthecaseofacelebratedperson，abenefactorofthehumanrace。Likeme。

MyparentsbroughtmetothevillageofHannibal，Missouri，onthebanksoftheMississippi，whenIwastwoandahalfyearsold。Ienteredschoolatfiveyearsofage，anddriftedfromoneschooltoanotherinthevillageduringnineandahalfyears。

Thenmyfatherdied，leavinghisfamilyinexceedinglystraitenedcircumstances;whereforemybookeducationcametoastandstillforever，andIbecameaprinter’sapprentice，onboardandclothes，andwhentheclothesfailedIgotahymnbookinplaceofthem。Thisforsummerwear，probably。IlivedinHannibalfifteenandahalfyears，altogether，thenranaway，accordingtothecustomofpersonswhoareintendingtobecomecelebrated。I

neverlivedthereafterward。FouryearslaterIbecamea"cub"

onaMississippisteamboatintheSt。LouisandNewOrleanstrade，andafterayearandahalfofhardstudyandhardworktheU。S。inspectorsrigorouslyexaminedmethroughacoupleoflongsittingsanddecidedthatIkneweveryinchoftheMississippithirteenhundredmilesinthedarkandintheday

aswellasababyknowsthewaytoitsmother’spapsdayornight。Sotheylicensedmeasapilotknightedme，sotospeakandIroseupclothedwithauthority，aresponsibleservantoftheUnitedStatesGovernment。

Nowthen。Shakespearediedyounghewasonlyfiftytwo。

Hehadlivedinhisnativevillagetwentysixyears，oraboutthat。Hediedcelebrated（ifyoubelieveeverythingyoureadinthebooks）。Yetwhenhediednobodythereorelsewheretookanynoticeofit;andforsixtyyearsafterwardnotownsmanrememberedtosayanythingabouthimorabouthislifeinStratford。Whentheinquirercameatlasthegotbutonefact

no，LEGENDandgotthatoneatsecondhand，fromapersonwhohadonlyhearditasarumoranddidn’tclaimcopyrightinitasaproductionofhisown。Hecouldn’t，verywell，foritsdateantedatedhisownbirthdate。ButnecessarilyanumberofpersonswerestillaliveinStratfordwho，inthedaysoftheiryouth，hadseenShakespearenearlyeverydayinthelastfiveyearsofhislife，andtheywouldhavebeenabletotellthatinquirersomefirsthandthingsabouthimifhehadinthoselastdaysbeenacelebrityandthereforeapersonofinteresttothevillagers。Whydidnottheinquirerhuntthemupandinterviewthem？Wasn’titworthwhile？Wasn’tthematterofsufficientconsequence？Hadtheinquireranengagementtoseeadogfightandcouldn’tsparethetime？

Itallseemstomeanthatheneverhadanyliterarycelebrity，thereorelsewhere，andnoconsiderablereputeasactorandmanager。

Nowthen，IamawayalonginlifemyseventythirdyearbeingalreadywellbehindmeyetSIXTEENofmyHannibalschoolmatesarestillalivetoday，andcantellanddotell

inquirersdozensanddozensofincidentsoftheiryounglivesandminetogether;thingsthathappenedtousinthemorningoflife，intheblossomofouryouth，inthegooddays，thedeardays，"thedayswhenwewentgipsying，alongtimeago。"Mostofthemcreditabletome，too。OnechildtowhomIpaidcourtwhenshewasfiveyearsoldandIeightstilllivesinHannibal，andshevisitedmelastsummer，traversingthenecessarytenortwelvehundredmilesofrailroadwithoutdamagetoherpatienceortoheroldyoungvigor。AnotherlittlelassietowhomIpaidattentioninHannibalwhenshewasnineyearsoldandIthesame，isstillaliveinLondonandhaleandhearty，justasIam。

AndonthefewsurvivingsteamboatsthoselingeringghostsandremembrancersofgreatfleetsthatpliedthebigriverinthebeginningofmywatercareerwhichisexactlyaslongagoasthewholeinvoiceofthelifeyearsofShakespearenumberstherearestillfindabletwoorthreeriverpilotswhosawmedocreditablethingsinthoseancientdays;andseveralwhiteheadedengineers;

andseveralroustaboutsandmates;andseveraldeckhandswhousedtoheavetheleadformeandsenduponthestillnightthe"SixfeetSCANT！"thatmademeshudder，andthe"Mark

TWAIN！"thattooktheshudderaway，andpresentlythedarling"BythedeepFOUR！"thatliftedmetoheavenforjoy。[1]Theyknowaboutme，andcantell。Andsodoprinters，fromSt。LouistoNewYork;andsodonewspaperreporters，fromNevadatoSanFrancisco。Andsodothepolice。IfShakespearehadreallybeencelebrated，likeme，Stratfordcouldhavetoldthingsabouthim;

andifmyexperiencegoesforanything，they’dhavedoneit。

1。Fourfathomstwentyfourfeet。

VII

IfIhadundermysuperintendenceacontroversyappointedtodecidewhetherShakespearewroteShakespeareornot，IbelieveIwouldplacebeforethedebatersonlytheonequestion，WASSHAKESPEAREEVERAPRACTICINGLAWYER？andleaveeverythingelseout。

Itismaintainedthatthemanwhowrotetheplayswasnotmerelymyriadminded，butalsomyriadaccomplished:thathenotonlyknewsomethousandsofthingsabouthumanlifeinallitsshadesandgrades，andaboutthehundredartsandtradesandcraftsandprofessionswhichmenbusythemselvesin，butthathecouldTALKaboutthemenandtheirgradesandtradesaccurately，makingnomistakes。Maybeitisso，buthavetheexpertsspoken，orisitonlyTom，Dick，andHarry？Doestheexhibitstanduponwide，andloose，andeloquentgeneralizingwhichisnotevidence，andnotprooforupondetails，particulars，statistics，illustrations，demonstrations？

ExpertsofunchallengeableauthorityhavetestifieddefinitelyastoonlyoneofShakespeare’smultifariouscraft

equipments，sofarasmyrecollectionsofShakespeareBacontalkabidewithmehislawequipment。IdonotrememberthatWellingtonorNapoleoneverexaminedShakespeare’sbattlesandsiegesandstrategies，andthendecidedandestablishedforgoodandallthattheyweremilitarilyflawless;IdonotrememberthatanyNelson，orDrake，orCookeverexaminedhisseamanshipandsaiditshowedprofoundandaccuratefamiliaritywiththatart;Idon’trememberthatanykingorprinceordukehasevertestifiedthatShakespearewasletterperfectinhishandlingofroyalcourtmannersandthetalkandmannersofaristocracies;I

don’trememberthatanyillustriousLatinistorGrecianorFrenchmanorSpaniardorItalianhasproclaimedhimapastmasterinthoselanguages;Idon’trememberwell，Idon’trememberthatthereisTESTIMONYgreattestimonyimposingtestimony

unanswerableandunattackabletestimonyastoanyofShakespeare’shundredspecialties，exceptonethelaw。

Otherthingschange，withtime，andthestudentcannottracebackwithcertaintythechangesthatvarioustradesandtheirprocessesandtechnicalitieshaveundergoneinthelongstretchofacenturyortwoandfindoutwhattheirprocessesandtechnicalitieswereinthoseearlydays，butwiththelawitisdifferent:itismilestonedanddocumentedallthewayback，andthemasterofthatwonderfultrade，thatcomplexandintricatetrade，thatawecompellingtrade，hascompetentwaysofknowingwhetherShakespearelawisgoodlawornot;andwhetherhislawcourtprocedureiscorrectornot，andwhetherhislegalshoptalkistheshoptalkofaveteranpractitioneroronlyamachinemadecounterfeitofitgatheredfrombooksandfromoccasionalloiteringsinWestminster。

RichardH。Danaservedtwoyearsbeforethemast，andhadeveryexperiencethatfallstothelotofthesailorbeforethemastofourday。HissailortalkflowsfromhispenwiththesuretouchandtheeaseandconfidenceofapersonwhohasLIVED

whatheistalkingabout，notgathereditfrombooksandrandomlistenings。Hearhim:

Havinghoveshort，castoffthegaskets，andmadethebuntofeachsailfastbythejigger，withamanoneachyard，atthewordthewholecanvasoftheshipwasloosed，andwiththegreatestrapiditypossibleeverythingwassheetedhomeandhoistedup，theanchortrippedandcatheaded，andtheshipunderheadway。

Again:

Theroyalyardswereallcrossedatonce，androyalsandskysailsset，and，aswehadthewindfree，theboomswererunout，andallwerealoft，activeascats，layingoutontheyardsandbooms，reevingthestuddingsailgear;andsailaftersailthecaptainpileduponher，untilshewascoveredwithcanvas，hersailslookinglikeagreatwhitecloudrestinguponablackspeck。

Oncemore。AraceinthePacific:

Ourantagonistwasinherbesttrim。Beingclearofthepoint，thebreezebecamestiff，andtheroyalmastsbentunderoursails，butwewouldnottaketheminuntilwesawthreeboysspringintotheriggingoftheCALIFORNIA;thentheywereallfurledatonce，butwithorderstoourboystostayaloftatthetopgallantmastheadsandloosethemagainattheword。Itwasmydutytofurltheforeroyal;andwhilestandingbytolooseitagain，Ihadafineviewofthescene。FromwhereIstood，thetwovesselsseemednothingbutsparsandsails，whiletheirnarrowdecks，farbelow，slantingoverbytheforceofthewindaloft，appearedhardlycapableofsupportingthegreatfabricsraiseduponthem。TheCALIFORNIAwastowindwardofus，andhadeveryadvantage;yet，whilethebreezewasstiffweheldourown。

Assoonasitbegantoslackensherangedalittleahead，andtheorderwasgiventoloosetheroyals。Inaninstantthegasketswereoffandthebuntdropped。"Sheethometheforeroyal！"

"Weathersheet’shome！""Leesheet’shome！""Hoistaway，sir！"

isbawledfromaloft。"Overhaulyourclewlines！"shoutsthemate。"Ayeaye，sir，allclear！""Tautleech！belay！Welltheleebrace;haultauttowindward！"andtheroyalsareset。

Whatwouldthecaptainofanysailingvesselofourtimesaytothat？Hewouldsay，"Themanthatwrotethatdidn’tlearnhistradeoutofabook，hehasBEENthere！"ButwouldthissamecaptainbecompetenttositinjudgmentuponShakespeare’sseamanshipconsideringthechangesinshipsandshiptalkthathavenecessarilytakenplace，unrecorded，unremembered，andlosttohistoryinthelastthreehundredyears？ItismyconvictionthatShakespeare’ssailortalkwouldbeChoctawtohim。Forinstancefrom"TheTempest":

MASTER。Boatswain！

BOATSWAIN。Here，master;whatcheer？

MASTER。Good，speaktothemariners:fallto’t，yarely，orwerunourselvestoground;bestir，bestir！

（ENTERMARINERS。）

BOATSWAIN。Heigh，myhearts！cheerly，cheerly，myhearts！

yare，yare！Takeinthetopsail。Tendtothemaster’swhistle……Downwiththetopmast！yare！lower，lower！Bringhertotrywi’themaincourse……Layherahold，ahold！Sethertwocourses。Offtoseaagain;layheroff。

Thatwilldo，forthepresent;letusyarealittle，now，forachange。

Ifamanshouldwriteabookandinitmakeoneofhischaracterssay，"Here，devil，emptythequoinsintothestandinggalleyandtheimposingstoneintothehellbox;assemblethecompsaroundthefrisketandletthemjefffortakesandbequickaboutit，"Ishouldrecognizeamistakeortwointhephrasing，andwouldknowthatthewriterwasonlyaprintertheoretically，notpractically。

Ihavebeenaquartzminerinthesilverregionsaprettyhardlife;Iknowallthepalaverofthatbusiness:Iknowallaboutdiscoveryclaimsandthesubordinateclaims;Iknowallaboutlodes，ledges，outcroppings，dips，spurs，angles，shafts，drifts，inclines，levels，tunnels，airshafts，"horses，"claycasings，granitecasings;quartzmillsandtheirbatteries;

arastras，andhowtochargethemwithquicksilverandsulphateofcopper;andhowtocleanthemup，andhowtoreducetheresultingamalgamintheretorts，andhowtocastthebullionintopigs;

andfinallyIknowhowtoscreentailings，andalsohowtohuntforsomethinglessrobusttodo，andfindit。Iknowtheargotandthequartzminingandmillingindustryfamiliarly;andsowheneverBretHarteintroducesthatindustryintoastory，thefirsttimeoneofhisminersopenshismouthIrecognizefromhisphrasingthatHartegotthephrasingbylisteninglikeShakespeareImeantheStratfordonenotbyexperience。Noonecantalkthequartzdialectcorrectlywithoutlearningitwithpickandshovelanddrillandfuse。

IhavebeenasurfaceminergoldandIknowallitsmysteries，andthedialectsthatbelongswiththem;andwheneverHarteintroducesthatindustryintoastoryIknowbythephrasingofhischaractersthatneitherhenortheyhaveeverservedthattrade。

Ihavebeena"pocket"minerasortofgoldminingnotfindableinanybutonelittlespotintheworld，sofarasI

know。Iknowhow，withhornandwater，tofindthetrailofapocketandtraceitstepbystepandstagebystageupthemountaintoitssource，andfindthecompactlittlenestofyellowmetalreposinginitssecrethomeundertheground。I

knowthelanguageofthattrade，thatcapricioustrade，thatfascinatingburiedtreasuretrade，andcancatchanywriterwhotriestouseitwithouthavinglearneditbythesweatofhisbrowandthelaborofhishands。

Iknowseveralothertradesandtheargotthatgoeswiththem;andwheneverapersontriestotalkthetalkpeculiartoanyofthemwithouthavinglearneditatitssourceIcantraphimalwaysbeforehegetsfaronhisroad。

Andso，asIhavealreadyremarked，ifIwererequiredtosuperintendaBaconShakespearecontroversy，Iwouldnarrowthematterdowntoasinglequestiontheonlyone，sofarasthepreviouscontroversieshaveinformedme，concerningwhichillustriousexpertsofunimpeachablecompetencyhavetestified:

WASTHEAUTHOROFSHAKESPEARE’SWORKSALAWYER？alawyerdeeplyreadandoflimitlessexperience？Iwouldputasidetheguessesandsurmises，andperhapes，andmighthavebeens，andcouldhave

beens，andmusthavebeens，andwearejustifiedinpresumings，andtherestofthosevaguespectersandshadowsandindefintenesses，andstandorfall，winorlose，bytheverdictrenderedbythejuryuponthatsinglequestion。IftheverdictwasYes，IshouldfeelquiteconvincedthattheStratfordShakespeare，theactor，manager，andtraderwhodiedsoobscure，soforgotten，sodestituteofevenvillageconsequence，thatsixtyyearsafterwardnofellowcitizenandfriendofhislaterdaysrememberedtotellanythingabouthim，didnotwritetheWorks。

ChapterXIIIofTHESHAKESPEAREPROBLEMRESTATEDbearstheheading"ShakespeareasaLawyer，"andcomprisessomefiftypagesofexperttestimony，withcommentsthereon，andIwillcopythefirstnine，asbeingsufficientallbythemselves，asitseemstome，tosettlethequestionwhichIhaveconceivedtobethemasterkeytotheShakespeareBaconpuzzle。

VIII

ShakespeareasaLawyer[1]

ThePlaysandPoemsofShakespearesupplyampleevidencethattheirauthornotonlyhadaveryextensiveandaccurateknowledgeoflaw，butthathewaswellacquaintedwiththemannersandcustomsofmembersoftheInnsofCourtandwithlegallifegenerally。

"Whilenovelistsanddramatistsareconstantlymakingmistakesastothelawsofmarriage，ofwills，ofinheritance，toShakespeare’slaw，lavishlyasheexpoundsit，therecanneitherbedemurrer，norbillofexceptions，norwritoferror。"SuchwasthetestimonybornebyoneofthemostdistinguishedlawyersofthenineteenthcenturywhowasraisedtothehighofficeofLordChiefJusticein1850，andsubsequentlybecameLordChancellor。Itsweightwill，doubtless，bemoreappreciatedbylawyersthanbylaymen，foronlylawyersknowhowimpossibleitisforthosewhohavenotservedanapprenticeshiptothelawtoavoiddisplayingtheirignoranceiftheyventuretoemploylegaltermsandtodiscusslegaldoctrines。"Thereisnothingsodangerous，"wroteLordCampbell，"asforonenotofthecrafttotamperwithourfreemasonry。"Alaymaniscertaintobetrayhimselfbyusingsomeexpressionwhichalawyerwouldneveremploy。Mr。SidneyLeehimselfsuppliesuswithanexampleofthis。Hewrites（p。164）:"OnFebruary15，1609，Shakespeare。