Will's poeme--enigma

[calbert at pop.tiac.net]

Those that are interested in this might want to look at Tom Bethell's 
take on the recent book by Joe Sobran,  Alias Shakespeare, in the 
May 97 issue of the American Spectator. Didn't read the original 
column myself, but the follow up correspondence in this monhs issue 
is a riot.
love,
cfa



Mascaro writes:
> Wasn't it that Ben Ionson writ this poeme, not Billy hisself?  BTW, anybody interested in 
> the great Snakespeare conspiracy (i.e. Who was Will) might be interested in knowing 
> that the famous engraving this poem refers to is, in some circles, considered
>  a puzzle, a joke, a cryptic enigma.  The figure seems to be wearing a mask, (preparing to 
> attend a TP costume party, perhaps?) one of his arms is backwards, his clothes don't 
> match, and other interesting details, including the poem, are seen as evidence that 
> *something's* not quite on the up-and-up.  A guy named Oswald, I think, wrote a 
> fascinating book (been yrs since I read it) which takes a *Lawyer's* look at the evidence of 
> S's *true* identity, and concludes it was Rochester or one of those noble guys, not a poor 
> peasant who once sued somebody for 4 pds. and never spelled his name the same way 
> twice (and never spelled it *Shakespeare*), left no books in his will etc.  In Oswald's view, 
> that Avon Shagsper was a dupe, a beard. Personally, I go for the slob from Avon, but some 
> aristocratic types can't accept this on the basis of the amzing erudition, the behind-the- 
> scenes court knowledge, and general world-knowledge in the plays themselves.
> 
> This guy Oswald's parents were S. scholars in the 30s and were hooted
>  out of academia for the theories he purports to prove, so there's this
>  very interessting subtext on the story as he tries to avenge his parents'
>  humiliation.
> 
> the connect to TP is the conspiracy angle--that a cabal of very powerful people
>  constructed a hoax that's been unbroken for centuries--hey Andrew, ever seen that bust 
> in Stratford where he's resting his arms on a pillow or a cushion?  According to the 
> conspiracy theorists, this bust is another coded piece of the puzzle.
> 
> john m
> *************************
> from sojourner:
> <snip>
> >
> >
> >
> >	"This figure that thou here feest put,
> >	 It was for gentle Shakespeare cut,
> >	 Wherein the graver had a strife
> >	 with nature to out-doo the life.
> >	 O could he but have drawne his wit
> >	 As well in braffe as he has hit
> >	 His face, the print would then surpaffe
> >	 All, that was ever writ in braffe
> >	 But, since he cannot, Reader, looke
> >	 Not on his picture but his booke."
> >
> >
> >		-Shakespeare
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
>