Chapter XVIII The Domestic Life of Shakspere's Time — IV 145

Young Shakspere goes to the play Sunday afternoon — the reason for afternoon performances — takes a box at the Blackfriars — description of a theatre of the time — lack of scenery — method of changing the locality of the action — Ben Jonson's satires on
CONTENTS ix
contemporary stage devices — extract from Every Man in bis Humour — representative plays of the time — Kyd's Spanish Tragedy — Robert Greene and his abuse of Shakspere — his Groatswortb of Wit and its famous fling at his rival — Chettle's apology for his own part in this — Greene's influence on Shak- spere — the first English comedy and tragedy — Nicholas Udall and his Ralph Royster Doyster — its date — plot of the play and extracts — Anne Hathaway 's escapade — possibly some such ad- venture the original of the many female masqueraders in men's clothes in Shakspere' s plays — after a week Shakspere sees a tragedy — Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst — style and argu- ment of his GorboduCf the first English tragedy — the quaint *' Domme Shew " that preceded it — extracts from the text.
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