THE

SECRET PASSION.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

“ SHAKSPEARE AND HIS FRIENDS,”

“ THE YOUTH OF SHAKSPEARE,” &c.

Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage

Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit,
To thee I send this written embassage,
To witness duty, not to show my wit.

SHAKSPEARE.

I loved the man, and do honour his memory on this side idolatry
as much as any. He was indeed honest, and of an open and free
mature.

Ben Jonson.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,

GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1844.

LONDON: P. SHOBERI., JUN., 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET,

PRINTER TO 8. R.. PRINCE ALBERT.

TO

THE ADMIRERS

Op

“ Wonie-Tong'd Shakspeare,”

AND OF THE OTHER ILLUSTRIOUS SPIRITS OF

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ENGLAND,

THESE VOLUMES,

WITH TRUE HUMBLENESS,

AND ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS TO THE SUBJECT,

ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,

BY

THEIR FELLOW-WORSHIPPER,

AND VERY OBEDIENT SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

Here beginneth the Story of

THE SECRET PASSION.

CHAPTER I.

What sport do I make with these fools! what pleasure
Feeds me, and fats my sides at their poor innocence !

Hang it, give me mirth,
Witty and dainty mirth: I shall grow in love, sure,
With mine owne happy head.

The Wild Goose Chase. He that will not, now and then, be a Calabingo, is worse than a Calamoothe.

The Virgin MARTYR.
But do you know what fooling is? true fooling?
The circumstances that belong unto it?
For every idle knave that shows his teeth
Wants, and would live, can juggle, tumble, fiddle,
Make a dog-face, or can abuse his fellow,
Is not a fool at first dash; you shall find, sir,
Strange turnings in this trade.

The Mad Lover.

If laughter may be taken as a sign of happiness, then right happy were the boisterous, free-hearted merry-makers that were causing the goodly rafters

VOL. I.