Cricket 1903

Nov. 26, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 463 SHAKESPEARE AND CRICKET. By C. A. F r e d e r ic k s . In these enlightened days one must, to be fashionable, advance some extra­ ordinary theory as to the authorship of the works of Shakespeare. Even students of literature who maintain that Shake­ speare really did write the plays and poems which bear his name have been known to state that his productions contain a hidden meaning : that there is, in fact, a “ Key.” Until the present time, however, the riddle has remained unsolved. Considering the vast amount of research which has been made of recent years into early cricket history, it is altogether remarkable that Shake­ speare’s writings have never before been accurately interpreted. In the days of Elizabeth, games were forbidden, but even in those remote times matches between noblemen were of frequent occurrencef as games, by law, were not allowed, it would have been little less than treason for any of the great writers to have referred to cricket in a laudatory manner. Mr. Pycroft evidently recog­ nised this fact, for in “ The Cricket Field ” he suggests that possibly the early dramatists one and all determined to ignore the game. Shakespeare, how­ ever, was evidently a very keen devotee of the game, and it will probably sur­ prise the majority of cricket enthusiasts to be told that his works contain a mine of information concerning the early history of the game. It was, however, necessary that in his allusions to crickot Shakespeare should use very guarded language. The Black Prince was cer­ tainly a famous player, although his name is not to be found in Scores and Biographies. We are told that he “ played on the French ground, making defeat on the full power of France.” International cricket therefore dates back over five hundred years. Unfortunately, details of the very early matches are unknown. Very possibly they were never published, for we are told “ Our forefathers had no other books hut the score.” —2 Henry 6, iv., 7. Long descriptions of the games appar­ ently did not appear to the early enthu­ siasts : their motto was “ The play’s the thing.” Calchas was evidently a famous player, as his name is specially men­ tioned. He was a wicket-keeper, and claims with Cerberus (who kept the Styx) the honour of being one of the iirst stumpers of whom there is auy record. A learned American lady, Mrs. Gallup, has recently endeavoured to prove that Shakespeare’s plays were the work of Bacon. Whether this is so or not—and the matter is of but little importance— the fact remains that “ Shakespeare” was a nom-de-plume. In the old days the word “ bflt,’.’ like “ spear,” meant a weapon of defence. Hence, the author of tiie plays, in adopting the name of Shakespeare, chose a nom-de-plume, the twentieth-century translation of which is “ Willow-WieldetV In Volume XX . of Cricket, page 462, appeared several quotations from the works of Shakespeare, proving his know­ ledge of the game. The following addi­ tional extracts from his writings serve but to strengthen the contention that the author of the immortal plays was a cricket enthusiast. Gentlemen v. Players : “ That must needs be sport.” Midsummer Night’s Dream, iii. 2. Ground measured incorrectly: “ Come, where’s the chains? I pray you let me seeit.” Comedyof Errors, iv. 1. A rough ground : “ . . . . digged stones out of the ground. Henry, vi. 1-4. The ground : “ What ground? Why here in Denmark.” Hamlet, v., 1. Lord Harris : “ A right description of our sport, my lord.” Love's Labour Lost, r., 2. [Lord Harris once stated at a public meeting : “ Cricket is not only a game, but a school of the greatest social importance.” ] Lord Hawke, run out: “ 0, my lord, you are tardy.” Henry VIIL., i., 4. J. T. Heame: “ I am no proud Jack, like Falstaff.” 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. Clem Hill: “ A noble b o y !” King John, ii. 1. A Hit for Six : “ Thou driv’st me past the hounds. ’ ’ MidsummerNight's Dream, iii. 2. A Hundred to win and the Last Man In : “ How, Camillo, may this, almost a miracle, be done?” A Winter’s Tale, iv. 3. Instruction : “ Sirrah, make haste : Percy is already in the field. 1 Henry IV., iv. 2. Mr. G. L. Jessop: “ I ’ll slash.” Love’s Labour Lost , v. 2. “ . . . striking in the field. 1 Henry VI., i 4. “ He’ll lay about him to-day, I can tell them that.” Troilus and Cressida, i. 2. “ There’s laving on ; take’toffwho will, as they say : there he hacks ! ” lb. “ A hit, a very palpable hit.” Hzmlet, v. 2. “ My lord, I ’ll hit him now.” Ib. Jockey Caps and Knee-Breeches : “ I should blush to see you so attir’d.” A Winter’s Tale, iv. 3. A Poor Judge of a Run: “ He would not call me.” lb. S. P. Kinneir : “ I must be patient.” All’s Well that Ends Well, ii. 3. Dan Leno’s Troupe : “ Lend me thy hand to laugh a little.” 1 Henry IV ., ii. 4. “ Why, this is the best fooling, when all is done.” Twelfth Night, ii. 3. A Long-Hop: “ Fear you not that.” 2 Henry IV., iv. 1. Long-Leg at Both 1 nds: “ Ajax goes up and down the field.” Troilus and Cressida, iii. 3. Lost Ball: “ Where is it, Jack? where is it ? ” 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. The Luncheon Interval: “ So soon asdinner’s done, we’ll forth again.” Timon of Athens, ii. 2. “ Man I n !” : Cressida: “ Who comes here ?” Alexander: “ Madam, your uncle Pan- darus.” Troilus and Cressida, i. 2. Mr. ,T. R. Mason: “ Thou out—runn’st Grace.” Timon of Athens, ii. 2. (In the match between the Gentlemen and Players, at Lord’s, in 1899, W. G. had made 78, and seemed certain of his hundred, when he was run out by Mason.) A Good Match : “ I saw not better sport these seven years.” 2 Henry VI., ii. 1. Pre-historic Matches : “ Who has the note of them? ” Cymbeline, i. 6. Mr. Alfred Mynn: “ A good portly man, i’ faith, and acorpulent; of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a most noble carriage.” 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. No-ball or Wide?: “ What do you call there?” All’s Well that Ends Well, ii. 3. No Run: “ No, no, my lord.” 2 HenryIV., iv. 1. Notts all out 13: “ My masters, are you mad ? or what are you ? ” Twelfth Night, ii. 3. Out: “ I have been bold.” Timon of Athens, ii. 2. Out first Ball: “ Is this your perfectness ? begone, you rogue.” Love’s Labour Lost, v. 2. “ 0 dainty duck! 0 dear!” Mid­ summer Night's Dream, v. 1. “ Greet him, and give him comforts.” A Winter's Tale, iv. 3. “ 0 miserable thought.” 3 Henry VI., iii. 2. Out lbw: “ Biron did swear.” Love’s Labour Lost, v. 2. “ Sorry I am to hear what I haveheard.” 2 Henry VI., ii. 1. A Long Outing: “ I am aweary, give me leave awhile; Fie, how my bones ache ! ” Romeo and Juliet, ii. 5. The Oval: “ Methinks the ground is even.” King Lear, iv. 6. Out for a Pair : “ He rais’d a sigh so piteous, and profound, That it did seem to shatter all his bulk, And end his being.” Hamlet, ii. 1. Mr. L. C. H. Palairet: “ You are a gentle­ man, and a gamester, sir.” Love's Labour Lost, i. 2. Mr. S. H. Pardon: “ A critic.” Love's Labour Lost, iii. 1. The Pitch : “ What a pitch ! ” 2 Henry VI., ii. 1. “ The more it is wasted, the sooner it wears.” 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. “ There is a thing, Harry, which thou hast often heard of, And it is known to many in our land by the name of pitch.” Ib. A Royal Player: “ His majesty went into the field.” Macbeth, iv. 1. Point: “ But, what a point, my lord.” 2 Henry VI., ii. 1. Major R. M. Poore: “ A soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen the world.” Love's Labour Lost, v. 1. W . G. Quaife : ‘ ‘ By Jove, I will be patient.” Troilus and Cressida, v. 2. W. G. Quaife at W icket: ‘ ‘ Here, therefore, for a while I will remain. Mid­ summer Night’s Dream, iii. 2. The Query: “ Where go you with bats and clubs?” Coriolanus, i. 1. “ AVho hath measured the ground?” Henry V., iii. 7. Rain : “ Thou interrupt’st our merriment.” Love's Labour Lost, v. 2. “ Thou hast disturb’d our sport.” Mid­ summer Night's Dream, ii. 2. A False Report: “ The players are all dead.” Ib., v. 1 A Resolution: “ I will not combat in my shirt.” Love's Labour Lost, v. 2. Return of the Team : Princess : “ Will they return ? ” Boyet: “ They will, they will, God knows, And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows.” Ib.