Shakespeare's Christmas gift to Queen Bess in the year 1596 . itetrunks and knee-breeches are laced withgold; the fword-belt, embroidered in redand gold, is decorated at intervals with [white Gift to Queen Befs 39 white Jilk bows; purple garters, embroid-ered in Jilver thread, fajien the whiteJiockings below the knee. As one of thehandfomeji of Elizabeths courtiers, andalfo one of the moji dijlinguifhed for birth,wealth, and wit, he would be a Jirikingfigure at any time; but to-night he has theadded diftinSlion of being the fpecial friendand munificent patron of the author of theplay that they
Shakespeare's Christmas gift to Queen Bess in the year 1596 . itetrunks and knee-breeches are laced withgold; the fword-belt, embroidered in redand gold, is decorated at intervals with [white Gift to Queen Befs 39 white Jilk bows; purple garters, embroid-ered in Jilver thread, fajien the whiteJiockings below the knee. As one of thehandfomeji of Elizabeths courtiers, andalfo one of the moji dijlinguifhed for birth,wealth, and wit, he would be a Jirikingfigure at any time; but to-night he has theadded diftinSlion of being the fpecial friendand munificent patron of the author of theplay that they have come to witnefs. Tohim had been dedicated the authors firfi [appeal 40 Shakefpeares Chriftmas appeal to the reading public—a poemcalled Venus and Adonis publijhedfome three years Jince; alfo, a certainfugared fonnet, privately circulated,protejiing— For to no other pafs my verfes tendThan of your graces and your gifts to tell. And through the patronage of this man—the gracious Earl of Southampton—theaBor-author was firjl brought to the [Queens. Earl of Southampton V Gift to Queen Befs 41 ^eens notice, finally leading to the prefentdiJiinBion at her hands. But now the fiage compels filk curtains are withdrawn, difclofinga Jetting of fuch elaboration and illufionas never before has been witnefsed byfixteenth century eyes. Never before hasthe frugal Elizabeth confented to fuch anexpenditure for cojiumes, properties, lights,and mufic. In vain the audience awaitsthe coming of the author; he is behind [the 42 Shakefpeares Chriftmas the fcenes, an anxious and watchfulpartner with the machinijl in fecuringthe proper working of thefe new mechan-ical appliances, and the fmoothnefs of thefcene fhifting. The ^een is a connoijfeurin thefe matters, and there muji be nobungling. The ft age is divided horizontally between the roof and floor, the upper part concealed from the audience, while the lower feSiion reprefents the interior of a royal palace at [Athens Gift
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectshakespearewilliam15
