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xxxvi
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
| IX | ||
| THE PATRONAGE OF THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON | ||
| PAGE | ||
| Biographic fact in the 'dedicatory' sonnets | 129 | |
| The Earl of Southampton the poet's sole patron | 130 | |
| Rivals in Southampton's favour | 134 | |
| Shakespeare's fear of another poet | 136 | |
| Barnabe Barnes probably the chief rival | 137 | |
| Other theories as to the chief rival's identity | 138 | |
| Sonnets of friendship | 140 | |
| Extravagances of literary compliment | 142 | |
| Patrons habitually addressed in affectionate terms | 143 | |
| Direct references to Southampton in the sonnets of friendship | 146 | |
| His youthfulness | 147 | |
| The evidence of portraits | 148 | |
| Sonnet cvii the last of the series | 151 | |
| Allusions to Queen Elizabeth's death | 151 | |
| Allusion to Southampton's release from prison | 153 | |
| X | ||
| THE SUPPOSED STORY OF INTRIGUE IN THE SONNETS | ||
| PAGE | ||
| Sonnets of melancholy and self-reproach | 155 | |
| The youth's relations with the poet's mistress | 157 | |
| Willobie his Avisa (1594) | 159 | |
| Summary of conclusions respecting the sonnets | 162 | |
| XI | ||
| THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRAMATIC POWER | ||
| PAGE | ||
| 1594-5 | Midsummer Night's Dream | 165 |
| 1595 | All's Well that Ends Well | 167 |
| 1595 | The Taming of The Shrew | 168 |
| Stratford allusions in the Induction | 169 | |
| Wincot | 169 | |
| 1597 | Henry IV | 172 |
| Falstaff | 174 | |
| 1597 | The Merry Wives of Windsor | 177 |
| 1598 | Henry V | 179 |
| Essex and the rebellion of 1601 | 181 | |
| Shakespeare's popularity and influence | 183 | |
| Shakespeare's friendship with Ben Jonson | 183 | |
| The Mermaid meetings | 184 | |
| 1598 | Meres's eulogy | 185 |