justasabrightladlikeme，rearedinavillageonthebanksoftheMississippi，mightbecomeperfectinknowledgeoftheBeringStraitwhalefisheryandtheshoptalkoftheveteranexercisesofthatadventurebristlingtradethroughcatchingcatfishwitha"trotline"Sundays。ButthesurmiseisdamagedbythefactthatthereisnoevidenceandnoteventraditionthattheyoungShakespearewaseverclerkofalawcourt。
　　ItisfurthersurmisedthattheyoungShakespeareaccumulatedhislawtreasuresinthefirstyearsofhissojourninLondon，through"amusinghimself"bylearningbooklawinhisgarretandbypickinguplawyertalkandtherestofitthroughloiteringaboutthelawcourtsandlistening。Butitisonlysurmise;thereisnoEVIDENCEthatheeverdideitherofthosethings。TheyaremerelyacoupleofchunksofplasterofParis。
　　ThereisalegendthathegothisbreadandbutterbyholdinghorsesinfrontoftheLondontheaters，morningsandafternoons。Maybehedid。Ifhedid，itseriouslyshortenedhislawstudyhoursandhisrecreationtimeinthecourts。Inthoseverydayshewaswritinggreatplays，andneededallthetimehecouldget。Thehorseholdinglegendoughttobestrangled;ittooformidablyincreasesthehistorian’sdifficultyinaccountingfortheyoungShakespeare’seruditionaneruditionwhichhewasacquiring，hunkbyhunkandchunkbychunk，everydayinthosestrenuoustimes，andemptyingeachday’scatchintonextday’simperishabledrama。
　　Hehadtoacquireaknowledgeofwaratthesametime;andaknowledgeofsoldierpeopleandsailorpeopleandtheirwaysandtalk;alsoaknowledgeofsomeforeignlandsandtheirlanguages:
　　forhewasdailyemptyingfluentstreamsofthesevariousknowledges，too，intohisdramas。Howdidheacquiretheserichassets？
　　Intheusualway:bysurmise。ItisSURMISEDthathetraveledinItalyandGermanyandaround，andqualifiedhimselftoputtheirscenicandsocialaspectsuponpaper;thatheperfectedhimselfinFrench，Italian，andSpanishontheroad;
　　thathewentinLeicester’sexpeditiontotheLowCountries，assoldierorsutlerorsomething，forseveralmonthsoryearsorwhateverlengthoftimeasurmiserneedsinhisbusinessandthusbecamefamiliarwithsoldiershipandsoldierwaysandsoldiertalkandgeneralshipandgeneralwaysandgeneraltalk，andseamanshipandsailorwaysandsailortalk。
　　Maybehedidallthesethings，butIwouldliketoknowwhoheldthehorsesinthemeantime;andwhostudiedthebooksinthegarret;andwhofrolickedinthelawcourtsforrecreation。
　　Also，whodidthecallboyingandtheplayacting。
　　Forhebecameacallboy;andasearlyas’93hebecamea"vagabond"thelaw’sungentletermforanunlistedactor;andin’94a"regular"andproperlyandofficiallylistedmemberofthat（inthosedays）lightlyvaluedandnotmuchrespectedprofession。
　　Rightsoonthereafterhebecameastockholderintwotheaters，andmanagerofthem。Thenceforwardhewasabusyandflourishingbusinessman，andwasrakinginmoneywithbothhandsfortwentyyears。Theninanoblefrenzyofpoeticinspirationhewrotehisonepoemhisonlypoem，hisdarlingandlaidhimdownanddied:
　　GoodfriendforIesussakeforbeareTodiggthedustencloasedheare:
　　BlestbeyemanytsparesthesstonesAndcurstbeheytmovesmybones。
　　Hewasprobablydeadwhenhewroteit。Still，thisisonlyconjecture。Wehaveonlycircumstantialevidence。Internalevidence。
　　ShallIsetdowntherestoftheConjectureswhichconstitutethegiantBiographyofWilliamShakespeare？ItwouldstraintheUnabridgedDictionarytoholdthem。Heisabrontosaur:ninebonesandsixhundredbarrelsofplasterofParis。
　　V
　　"WeMayAssume"
　　IntheAssumingtradethreeseparateandindependentcultsaretransactingbusiness。TwoofthesecultsareknownastheShakespearitesandtheBaconians，andIamtheotheronetheBrontosaurian。
　　TheShakespeariteknowsthatShakespearewroteShakespeare’sWorks;theBaconianknowsthatFrancisBaconwrotethem;theBrontosauriandoesn’treallyknowwhichofthemdidit，butisquitecomposedlyandcontentedlysurethatShakespeareDIDN’T，andstronglysuspectsthatBaconDID。Weallhavetodoagooddealofassuming，butIamfairlycertainthatineverycaseI
　　cancalltomindtheBaconianassumershavecomeoutaheadoftheShakespearites。Bothpartieshandlethesamematerials，buttheBaconiansseemtometogetmuchmorereasonableandrationalandpersuasiveresultsoutofthemthanisthecasewiththeShakespearites。TheShakespeariteconductshisassuminguponadefiniteprinciple，anunchangingandimmutablelaw:whichis:
　　2and8and7and14，addedtogether，make165。Ibelievethistobeanerror。Nomatter，youcannotgetahabitsoddenShakespearitetocipheruphismaterialsuponanyotherbasis。
　　WiththeBaconianitisdifferent。Ifyouplacebeforehimtheabovefiguresandsethimtoaddingthemup，hewillneverinanycasegetmorethan45outofthem，andinninecasesoutoftenhewillgetjusttheproper31。
　　Letmetrytoillustratethetwosystemsinasimpleandhomelywaycalculatedtobringtheideawithinthegraspoftheignorantandunintelligent。Wewillsupposeacase:takealap
　　bred，housefed，uneducated，inexperiencedkitten;takearuggedoldTomthat’sscarredfromstemtorudderpostwiththememorialsofstrenuousexperience，andissocultured，soeducated，solimitlesslyeruditethatonemaysayofhim"allcatknowledgeishisprovince";also，takeamouse。Lockthethreeupinaholeless，crackless，exitlessprisoncell。Waithalfanhour，thenopenthecell，introduceaShakespeariteandaBaconian，andletthemcipherandassume。Themouseismissing:
　　thequestiontobedecidedis，whereisit？Youcanguessbothverdictsbeforehand。Oneverdictwillsaythekittencontainsthemouse;theotherwillascertainlysaythemouseisinthetomcat。
　　TheShakespearitewillReasonlikethis（thatisnotmyword，itishis）。HewillsaythekittenMAYHAVEBEENattendingschoolwhennobodywasnoticing;thereforeWEAREWARRANTEDIN
　　ASSUMINGthatitdidso;also，itCOULDHAVEBEENtraininginacourtclerk’sofficewhennoonewasnoticing;sincethatcouldhavehappened，WEAREJUSTIFIEDINASSUMINGthatitdidhappen;
　　itCOULDHAVESTUDIEDCATOLOGYINAGARRETwhennoonewasnoticingthereforeitDID;itCOULDHAVEattendedcatassizesontheshedroofnights，forrecreation，whennoonewasnoticing，andhaveharvestedaknowledgeofcatcourtformsandcatlawyer
　　talkinthatway:itCOULDhavedoneit，thereforewithoutadoubtitDID;itCOULDHAVEgonesoldieringwithawartribewhennoonewasnoticing，andlearnedsoldierwilesandsoldierways，andwhattodowithamousewhenopportunityoffers;theplaininference，therefore，isthatthatiswhatitDID。SinceallthesemanifoldthingsCOULDhaveoccurred，wehaveEVERYRIGHTTO
　　BELIEVEtheydidoccur。Thesepatientlyandpainstakinglyaccumulatedvastacquirementsandcompetencesneededbutonethingmoreopportunitytoconvertthemselvesintotriumphalaction。Theopportunitycame，wehavetheresult;BEYONDSHADOW
　　OFQUESTIONthemouseisinthekitten。
　　Itispropertoremarkthatwhenweofthethreecultsplanta"WETHINKWEMAYASSUME，"weexpectit，undercarefulwateringandfertilizingandtending，togrowupintoastrongandhardyandweatherdefying"THEREISN’TASHADOWOFADOUBT"atlast
　　anditusuallyhappens。
　　WeknowwhattheBaconian’sverdictwouldbe:"THEREISNOT
　　ARAGOFEVIDENCETHATTHEKITTENHASHADANYTRAINING，ANY
　　EDUCATION，ANYEXPERIENCEQUALIFYINGITFORTHEPRESENTOCCASION，ORISINDEEDEQUIPPEDFORANYACHIEVEMENTABOVELIFTINGSUCH
　　UNCLAIMEDMILKASCOMESITSWAY;BUTTHEREISABUNDANTEVIDENCE
　　UNASSAILABLEPROOF，INFACTTHATTHEOTHERANIMALISEQUIPPED，TOTHELASTDETAIL，WITHEVERYQUALIFICATIONNECESSARYFORTHE
　　EVENT。WITHOUTSHADOWOFDOUBTTHETOMCATCONTAINSTHEMOUSE。"
　　VI
　　WhenShakespearedied，in1616，greatliteraryproductionsattributedtohimasauthorhadbeenbeforetheLondonworldandinhighfavorfortwentyfouryears。Yethisdeathwasnotanevent。Itmadenostir，itattractednoattention。Apparentlyhiseminentliterarycontemporariesdidnotrealizethatacelebratedpoethadpassedfromtheirmidst。Perhapstheyknewaplayactorofminorrankhaddisappeared，butdidnotregardhimastheauthorofhisWorks。"Wearejustifiedinassuming"this。
　　HisdeathwasnotevenaneventinthelittletownofStratford。DoesthismeanthatinStratfordhewasnotregardedasacelebrityofANYkind？
　　"Weareprivilegedtoassume"no，weareindeedOBLIGEDtoassumethatsuchwasthecase。Hehadspentthefirsttwenty
　　twoortwentythreeyearsofhislifethere，andofcoursekneweverybodyandwasknownbyeverybodyofthatdayinthetown，includingthedogsandthecatsandthehorses。Hehadspentthelastfiveorsixyearsofhislifethere，diligentlytradingineverybigandlittlethingthathadmoneyinit;sowearecompelledtoassumethatmanyofthefolkthereinthosesaidlatterdaysknewhimpersonally，andtherestbysightandhearsay。ButnotasaCELEBRITY？Apparentlynot。Foreverybodysoonforgottorememberanycontactwithhimoranyincidentconnectedwithhim。Thedozensoftownspeople，stillalive，whohadknownofhimorknownabouthiminthefirsttwentythreeyearsofhislifewereinthesameunrememberingcondition:iftheyknewofanyincidentconnectedwiththatperiodofhislifetheydidn’ttellaboutit。Wouldtheiftheyhadbeenasked？Itismostlikely。Weretheyasked？Itisprettyapparentthattheywerenot。Whyweren’tthey？Itisaveryplausibleguessthatnobodythereorelsewherewasinterestedtoknow。
　　ForsevenyearsafterShakespeare’sdeathnobodyseemstohavebeeninterestedinhim。Thenthequartowaspublished，andBenJonsonawokeoutofhislongindifferenceandsangasongofpraiseandputitinthefrontofthebook。ThensilencefellAGAIN。
　　Forsixtyyears。TheninquiriesintoShakespeare’sStratfordlifebegantobemade，ofStratfordians。OfStratfordianswhohadknownShakespeareorhadseenhim？No。ThenofStratfordianswhohadseenpeoplewhohadknownorseenpeoplewhohadseenShakespeare？No。ApparentlytheinquireswereonlymadeofStratfordianswhowerenotStratfordiansofShakespeare’sday，butlatercomers;andwhattheyhadlearnedhadcometothemfrompersonswhohadnotseenShakespeare;andwhattheyhadlearnedwasnotclaimedasFACT，butonlyaslegend
　　dimandfadingandindefinitelegend;legendofthecalfslaughteringrank，andnotworthrememberingeitherashistoryorfiction。
　　Hasiteverhappenedbeforeorsincethatacelebratedpersonwhohadspentexactlyhalfofafairlylonglifeinthevillagewherehewasbornandreared，wasabletoslipoutofthisworldandleavethatvillagevoicelessandgossiplessbehindhimutterlyvoiceless。，utterlygossipless？Andpermanentlyso？
　　Idon’tbelieveithashappenedinanycaseexceptShakespeare’s。
　　Andcouldn’tandwouldn’thavehappenedinhiscaseifhehadbeenregardedasacelebrityatthetimeofhisdeath。
　　WhenIexaminemyowncasebutletusdothat，andseeifitwillnotberecognizableasexhibitingaconditionofthingsquitelikelytoresult，mostlikelytoresult，indeedsubstantiallySUREtoresultinthecaseofacelebratedperson，abenefactorofthehumanrace。Likeme。
　　MyparentsbroughtmetothevillageofHannibal，Missouri，onthebanksoftheMississippi，whenIwastwoandahalfyearsold。Ienteredschoolatfiveyearsofage，anddriftedfromoneschooltoanotherinthevillageduringnineandahalfyears。
　　Thenmyfatherdied，leavinghisfamilyinexceedinglystraitenedcircumstances;whereforemybookeducationcametoastandstillforever，andIbecameaprinter’sapprentice，onboardandclothes，andwhentheclothesfailedIgotahymnbookinplaceofthem。Thisforsummerwear，probably。IlivedinHannibalfifteenandahalfyears，altogether，thenranaway，accordingtothecustomofpersonswhoareintendingtobecomecelebrated。I
　　neverlivedthereafterward。FouryearslaterIbecamea"cub"
　　onaMississippisteamboatintheSt。LouisandNewOrleanstrade，andafterayearandahalfofhardstudyandhardworktheU。S。inspectorsrigorouslyexaminedmethroughacoupleoflongsittingsanddecidedthatIkneweveryinchoftheMississippithirteenhundredmilesinthedarkandintheday
　　aswellasababyknowsthewaytoitsmother’spapsdayornight。Sotheylicensedmeasapilotknightedme，sotospeakandIroseupclothedwithauthority，aresponsibleservantoftheUnitedStatesGovernment。
　　Nowthen。Shakespearediedyounghewasonlyfiftytwo。
　　Hehadlivedinhisnativevillagetwentysixyears，oraboutthat。Hediedcelebrated（ifyoubelieveeverythingyoureadinthebooks）。Yetwhenhediednobodythereorelsewheretookanynoticeofit;andforsixtyyearsafterwardnotownsmanrememberedtosayanythingabouthimorabouthislifeinStratford。Whentheinquirercameatlasthegotbutonefact
　　no，LEGENDandgotthatoneatsecondhand，fromapersonwhohadonlyhearditasarumoranddidn’tclaimcopyrightinitasaproductionofhisown。Hecouldn’t，verywell，foritsdateantedatedhisownbirthdate。ButnecessarilyanumberofpersonswerestillaliveinStratfordwho，inthedaysoftheiryouth，hadseenShakespearenearlyeverydayinthelastfiveyearsofhislife，andtheywouldhavebeenabletotellthatinquirersomefirsthandthingsabouthimifhehadinthoselastdaysbeenacelebrityandthereforeapersonofinteresttothevillagers。Whydidnottheinquirerhuntthemupandinterviewthem？Wasn’titworthwhile？Wasn’tthematterofsufficientconsequence？Hadtheinquireranengagementtoseeadogfightandcouldn’tsparethetime？
　　Itallseemstomeanthatheneverhadanyliterarycelebrity，thereorelsewhere，andnoconsiderablereputeasactorandmanager。
　　Nowthen，IamawayalonginlifemyseventythirdyearbeingalreadywellbehindmeyetSIXTEENofmyHannibalschoolmatesarestillalivetoday，andcantellanddotell
　　inquirersdozensanddozensofincidentsoftheiryounglivesandminetogether;thingsthathappenedtousinthemorningoflife，intheblossomofouryouth，inthegooddays，thedeardays，"thedayswhenwewentgipsying，alongtimeago。"Mostofthemcreditabletome，too。OnechildtowhomIpaidcourtwhenshewasfiveyearsoldandIeightstilllivesinHannibal，andshevisitedmelastsummer，traversingthenecessarytenortwelvehundredmilesofrailroadwithoutdamagetoherpatienceortoheroldyoungvigor。AnotherlittlelassietowhomIpaidattentioninHannibalwhenshewasnineyearsoldandIthesame，isstillaliveinLondonandhaleandhearty，justasIam。
　　AndonthefewsurvivingsteamboatsthoselingeringghostsandremembrancersofgreatfleetsthatpliedthebigriverinthebeginningofmywatercareerwhichisexactlyaslongagoasthewholeinvoiceofthelifeyearsofShakespearenumberstherearestillfindabletwoorthreeriverpilotswhosawmedocreditablethingsinthoseancientdays;andseveralwhiteheadedengineers;
　　andseveralroustaboutsandmates;andseveraldeckhandswhousedtoheavetheleadformeandsenduponthestillnightthe"SixfeetSCANT！"thatmademeshudder，andthe"Mark
　　TWAIN！"thattooktheshudderaway，andpresentlythedarling"BythedeepFOUR！"thatliftedmetoheavenforjoy。[1]Theyknowaboutme，andcantell。Andsodoprinters，fromSt。LouistoNewYork;andsodonewspaperreporters，fromNevadatoSanFrancisco。Andsodothepolice。IfShakespearehadreallybeencelebrated，likeme，Stratfordcouldhavetoldthingsabouthim;
　　andifmyexperiencegoesforanything，they’dhavedoneit。
　　1。Fourfathomstwentyfourfeet。
　　VII
　　IfIhadundermysuperintendenceacontroversyappointedtodecidewhetherShakespearewroteShakespeareornot，IbelieveIwouldplacebeforethedebatersonlytheonequestion，WASSHAKESPEAREEVERAPRACTICINGLAWYER？andleaveeverythingelseout。
　　Itismaintainedthatthemanwhowrotetheplayswasnotmerelymyriadminded，butalsomyriadaccomplished:thathenotonlyknewsomethousandsofthingsabouthumanlifeinallitsshadesandgrades，andaboutthehundredartsandtradesandcraftsandprofessionswhichmenbusythemselvesin，butthathecouldTALKaboutthemenandtheirgradesandtradesaccurately，makingnomistakes。Maybeitisso，buthavetheexpertsspoken，orisitonlyTom，Dick，andHarry？Doestheexhibitstanduponwide，andloose，andeloquentgeneralizingwhichisnotevidence，andnotprooforupondetails，particulars，statistics，illustrations，demonstrations？
　　ExpertsofunchallengeableauthorityhavetestifieddefinitelyastoonlyoneofShakespeare’smultifariouscraft
　　equipments，sofarasmyrecollectionsofShakespeareBacontalkabidewithmehislawequipment。IdonotrememberthatWellingtonorNapoleoneverexaminedShakespeare’sbattlesandsiegesandstrategies，andthendecidedandestablishedforgoodandallthattheyweremilitarilyflawless;IdonotrememberthatanyNelson，orDrake，orCookeverexaminedhisseamanshipandsaiditshowedprofoundandaccuratefamiliaritywiththatart;Idon’trememberthatanykingorprinceordukehasevertestifiedthatShakespearewasletterperfectinhishandlingofroyalcourtmannersandthetalkandmannersofaristocracies;I
　　don’trememberthatanyillustriousLatinistorGrecianorFrenchmanorSpaniardorItalianhasproclaimedhimapastmasterinthoselanguages;Idon’trememberwell，Idon’trememberthatthereisTESTIMONYgreattestimonyimposingtestimony
　　unanswerableandunattackabletestimonyastoanyofShakespeare’shundredspecialties，exceptonethelaw。
　　Otherthingschange，withtime，andthestudentcannottracebackwithcertaintythechangesthatvarioustradesandtheirprocessesandtechnicalitieshaveundergoneinthelongstretchofacenturyortwoandfindoutwhattheirprocessesandtechnicalitieswereinthoseearlydays，butwiththelawitisdifferent:itismilestonedanddocumentedallthewayback，andthemasterofthatwonderfultrade，thatcomplexandintricatetrade，thatawecompellingtrade，hascompetentwaysofknowingwhetherShakespearelawisgoodlawornot;andwhetherhislawcourtprocedureiscorrectornot，andwhetherhislegalshoptalkistheshoptalkofaveteranpractitioneroronlyamachinemadecounterfeitofitgatheredfrombooksandfromoccasionalloiteringsinWestminster。
　　RichardH。Danaservedtwoyearsbeforethemast，andhadeveryexperiencethatfallstothelotofthesailorbeforethemastofourday。HissailortalkflowsfromhispenwiththesuretouchandtheeaseandconfidenceofapersonwhohasLIVED
　　whatheistalkingabout，notgathereditfrombooksandrandomlistenings。Hearhim:
　　Havinghoveshort，castoffthegaskets，andmadethebuntofeachsailfastbythejigger，withamanoneachyard，atthewordthewholecanvasoftheshipwasloosed，andwiththegreatestrapiditypossibleeverythingwassheetedhomeandhoistedup，theanchortrippedandcatheaded，andtheshipunderheadway。
　　Again:
　　Theroyalyardswereallcrossedatonce，androyalsandskysailsset，and，aswehadthewindfree，theboomswererunout，andallwerealoft，activeascats，layingoutontheyardsandbooms，reevingthestuddingsailgear;andsailaftersailthecaptainpileduponher，untilshewascoveredwithcanvas，hersailslookinglikeagreatwhitecloudrestinguponablackspeck。
　　Oncemore。AraceinthePacific:
　　Ourantagonistwasinherbesttrim。Beingclearofthepoint，thebreezebecamestiff，andtheroyalmastsbentunderoursails，butwewouldnottaketheminuntilwesawthreeboysspringintotheriggingoftheCALIFORNIA;thentheywereallfurledatonce，butwithorderstoourboystostayaloftatthetopgallantmastheadsandloosethemagainattheword。Itwasmydutytofurltheforeroyal;andwhilestandingbytolooseitagain，Ihadafineviewofthescene。FromwhereIstood，thetwovesselsseemednothingbutsparsandsails，whiletheirnarrowdecks，farbelow，slantingoverbytheforceofthewindaloft，appearedhardlycapableofsupportingthegreatfabricsraiseduponthem。TheCALIFORNIAwastowindwardofus，andhadeveryadvantage;yet，whilethebreezewasstiffweheldourown。
　　Assoonasitbegantoslackensherangedalittleahead，andtheorderwasgiventoloosetheroyals。Inaninstantthegasketswereoffandthebuntdropped。"Sheethometheforeroyal！"
　　"Weathersheet’shome！""Leesheet’shome！""Hoistaway，sir！"
　　isbawledfromaloft。"Overhaulyourclewlines！"shoutsthemate。"Ayeaye，sir，allclear！""Tautleech！belay！Welltheleebrace;haultauttowindward！"andtheroyalsareset。
　　Whatwouldthecaptainofanysailingvesselofourtimesaytothat？Hewouldsay，"Themanthatwrotethatdidn’tlearnhistradeoutofabook，hehasBEENthere！"ButwouldthissamecaptainbecompetenttositinjudgmentuponShakespeare’sseamanshipconsideringthechangesinshipsandshiptalkthathavenecessarilytakenplace，unrecorded，unremembered，andlosttohistoryinthelastthreehundredyears？ItismyconvictionthatShakespeare’ssailortalkwouldbeChoctawtohim。Forinstancefrom"TheTempest":
　　MASTER。Boatswain！
　　BOATSWAIN。Here，master;whatcheer？
　　MASTER。Good，speaktothemariners:fallto’t，yarely，orwerunourselvestoground;bestir，bestir！
　　（ENTERMARINERS。）
　　BOATSWAIN。Heigh，myhearts！cheerly，cheerly，myhearts！
　　yare，yare！Takeinthetopsail。Tendtothemaster’swhistle……Downwiththetopmast！yare！lower，lower！Bringhertotrywi’themaincourse……Layherahold，ahold！Sethertwocourses。Offtoseaagain;layheroff。
　　Thatwilldo，forthepresent;letusyarealittle，now，forachange。
　　Ifamanshouldwriteabookandinitmakeoneofhischaracterssay，"Here，devil，emptythequoinsintothestandinggalleyandtheimposingstoneintothehellbox;assemblethecompsaroundthefrisketandletthemjefffortakesandbequickaboutit，"Ishouldrecognizeamistakeortwointhephrasing，andwouldknowthatthewriterwasonlyaprintertheoretically，notpractically。
　　Ihavebeenaquartzminerinthesilverregionsaprettyhardlife;Iknowallthepalaverofthatbusiness:Iknowallaboutdiscoveryclaimsandthesubordinateclaims;Iknowallaboutlodes，ledges，outcroppings，dips，spurs，angles，shafts，drifts，inclines，levels，tunnels，airshafts，"horses，"claycasings，granitecasings;quartzmillsandtheirbatteries;
　　arastras，andhowtochargethemwithquicksilverandsulphateofcopper;andhowtocleanthemup，andhowtoreducetheresultingamalgamintheretorts，andhowtocastthebullionintopigs;
　　andfinallyIknowhowtoscreentailings，andalsohowtohuntforsomethinglessrobusttodo，andfindit。Iknowtheargotandthequartzminingandmillingindustryfamiliarly;andsowheneverBretHarteintroducesthatindustryintoastory，thefirsttimeoneofhisminersopenshismouthIrecognizefromhisphrasingthatHartegotthephrasingbylisteninglikeShakespeareImeantheStratfordonenotbyexperience。Noonecantalkthequartzdialectcorrectlywithoutlearningitwithpickandshovelanddrillandfuse。
　　IhavebeenasurfaceminergoldandIknowallitsmysteries，andthedialectsthatbelongswiththem;andwheneverHarteintroducesthatindustryintoastoryIknowbythephrasingofhischaractersthatneitherhenortheyhaveeverservedthattrade。
　　Ihavebeena"pocket"minerasortofgoldminingnotfindableinanybutonelittlespotintheworld，sofarasI
　　know。Iknowhow，withhornandwater，tofindthetrailofapocketandtraceitstepbystepandstagebystageupthemountaintoitssource，andfindthecompactlittlenestofyellowmetalreposinginitssecrethomeundertheground。I
　　knowthelanguageofthattrade，thatcapricioustrade，thatfascinatingburiedtreasuretrade，andcancatchanywriterwhotriestouseitwithouthavinglearneditbythesweatofhisbrowandthelaborofhishands。
　　Iknowseveralothertradesandtheargotthatgoeswiththem;andwheneverapersontriestotalkthetalkpeculiartoanyofthemwithouthavinglearneditatitssourceIcantraphimalwaysbeforehegetsfaronhisroad。
　　Andso，asIhavealreadyremarked，ifIwererequiredtosuperintendaBaconShakespearecontroversy，Iwouldnarrowthematterdowntoasinglequestiontheonlyone，sofarasthepreviouscontroversieshaveinformedme，concerningwhichillustriousexpertsofunimpeachablecompetencyhavetestified:
　　WASTHEAUTHOROFSHAKESPEARE’SWORKSALAWYER？alawyerdeeplyreadandoflimitlessexperience？Iwouldputasidetheguessesandsurmises，andperhapes，andmighthavebeens，andcouldhave
　　beens，andmusthavebeens，andwearejustifiedinpresumings，andtherestofthosevaguespectersandshadowsandindefintenesses，andstandorfall，winorlose，bytheverdictrenderedbythejuryuponthatsinglequestion。IftheverdictwasYes，IshouldfeelquiteconvincedthattheStratfordShakespeare，theactor，manager，andtraderwhodiedsoobscure，soforgotten，sodestituteofevenvillageconsequence，thatsixtyyearsafterwardnofellowcitizenandfriendofhislaterdaysrememberedtotellanythingabouthim，didnotwritetheWorks。
　　ChapterXIIIofTHESHAKESPEAREPROBLEMRESTATEDbearstheheading"ShakespeareasaLawyer，"andcomprisessomefiftypagesofexperttestimony，withcommentsthereon，andIwillcopythefirstnine，asbeingsufficientallbythemselves，asitseemstome，tosettlethequestionwhichIhaveconceivedtobethemasterkeytotheShakespeareBaconpuzzle。
　　VIII
　　ShakespeareasaLawyer[1]
　　ThePlaysandPoemsofShakespearesupplyampleevidencethattheirauthornotonlyhadaveryextensiveandaccurateknowledgeoflaw，butthathewaswellacquaintedwiththemannersandcustomsofmembersoftheInnsofCourtandwithlegallifegenerally。
　　"Whilenovelistsanddramatistsareconstantlymakingmistakesastothelawsofmarriage，ofwills，ofinheritance，toShakespeare’slaw，lavishlyasheexpoundsit，therecanneitherbedemurrer，norbillofexceptions，norwritoferror。"SuchwasthetestimonybornebyoneofthemostdistinguishedlawyersofthenineteenthcenturywhowasraisedtothehighofficeofLordChiefJusticein1850，andsubsequentlybecameLordChancellor。Itsweightwill，doubtless，bemoreappreciatedbylawyersthanbylaymen，foronlylawyersknowhowimpossibleitisforthosewhohavenotservedanapprenticeshiptothelawtoavoiddisplayingtheirignoranceiftheyventuretoemploylegaltermsandtodiscusslegaldoctrines。"Thereisnothingsodangerous，"wroteLordCampbell，"asforonenotofthecrafttotamperwithourfreemasonry。"Alaymaniscertaintobetrayhimselfbyusingsomeexpressionwhichalawyerwouldneveremploy。Mr。SidneyLeehimselfsuppliesuswithanexampleofthis。Hewrites（p。164）:"OnFebruary15，1609，Shakespeare。