But Greene was a professed scholar, and perhaps for him it was no sufficient vindication that (according to Mr. Collier) a passage in John Taylor's "Travels to Prague in Bohemia," in 1620, shows that the satirical writer did not consider it strange that an alderman of London was not aware that a fleet of ships could not arrive at a port of Bohemia:-"I am no sooner eased of him, but Gregory Gandergoose, an alderman of Gotham, catches me by the goll, demanding if Bohemia be a great town, and whether there be any meat in it, and whether the last fleet of ships be arrived there." In fact, Greene has a very satisfactory defence, which would serve also for Shakespeare if it were not evident that he had treated the subject with perfect indifference; and it surprises me that it has not occurred to some of the English critics, who are never deficient in classical learning. It is this. The present Bohemia (the Boiihmium of the Latins, as we learn from Tacitus and others) derived its name from the ancient Boii, a Gaulish or Celtic people, part of whom migrated there about five hundred years before the Christian era. But these same Boii, we learn from the best ancient authorities (Cæsar, Strabo, and Ausonius among them) were a numerous and powerful people of many tribes, some of which occupied the south part of Cis-Alpine Gaul, between the Appenines and the Rubicon to the sea, while another nation of the same stock and name inhabited the western coast of Gaul Proper along the sea-coast. Either of these districts, as the land of the Boii, might well be designated as Bohemia by a scholar like Greene, and would answer all the purpose of his story without hazarding any imputation on his knowledge of geography, ancient or modern. SCENE I. Sicilia. An Antechamber in LEONTES' Palace. Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS. Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him. Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed, Cam. Beseech you, Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificencein so rare-I know not what to say. We will give you sleepy drinks, that your senses, unintelligent of our insufficience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us. Cam. You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely. Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding instructs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utter ance. Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attorney'd, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies, that they have seemed to be together, though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue their loves! Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius : it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note. Cam. I very well agree with you in the hopes of him. It is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life to see him a man. Arch. Would they else be content to die? Cam. Yes; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live. Arch. If the king had no son they would desire to live on crutches till he had one. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The Same. A Room of State in the Palace. But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were boys: You were pretty lordings then. Pol. We were, fair queen, Leon. One seven-night longer. Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow. Leon. We'll part the time between's then; and in that The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd That any did. Had we pursued that life, And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven I have tremor cordis on me :-my heart dances, Ay, my good lord. I' fecks? Our praises are our wages: you may ride's Nay, let me have't; I long. Mam. Leon. |