Virtual Grub Street: F.V. on Erasmus’ Influence on Shakespeare.

“Those who trace the similarities between authors,” says FV, in the The Gentleman’s Magazine, July 1854,

seem peculiarly exposed to this tendency, and often find food for speculation when the resemblance is so slight as to be invisible to all eyes but their own, and again, where the idea supposed to be stolen is so obvious as to be all but innate. Of this kind were those two Shaksperian critics who drew down upon their heads the awful indignation of the oracle of Bolt Court, one of them by detecting in the expression ‘Go before, I'll follow,’ a translation of the Latin ‘I prae, sequar,’ and the other by imputing to Caliban who, after a pleasing dream says, ‘I cried to sleep again,’ a plagiarism from an ode of Anacreon.

So I will be sure to make clear that Erasmus’ influence on Shakespeare’s works is considerable. Much more than tends to be understood and I look forward to touching on one unknown instance in particular when time permits. But the old scholar did not first write plays, since lost, which were then assigned to Shakespeare.

F.V. offers still more on the subject himself, particularly of the influence of Erasmus’s Colloquia Familiaria, which I look forward to develop. In the meantime, his first examples may be of interest.

“[I]n one of the Colloquies termed the Senatulus, the female portion of the community are represented as determined on legislating for themselves, and summoning a parliament for that purpose. A debate arises as to whether a member who, when on her legs, speaks ill of her husband, is to be deemed out of order or no. One of them, Cornelia, then puts in this plea for the men.

Quanquam autem habemus non paucas justae querimoniae causas, tamen expensi rerum omnium summa nostra potior est quam illorum conditio.	Though we have not a few other causes of just complaint, nevertheless weighed out, all things together our condition is preferable to theirs.
Illi dum querunt rem, per omnes terras ac maria volitant, non sine capitis discrimine: illi, si bellum incidat, excitantur buccina, ferrei stant in acie, dum nos domi sedemus tute.	While they quarrel over things, flying to and fro through all the lands and sea, not without risk: there, lining up for battle, trumpets sounding, they stand with sharpened steel, while we all sit at home.

To this passage we think that Katharine is somewhat indebted when advocating the “awful rule and right supremacy” of husbands over wives.

Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,

Thy head, thy sovereign: one that cares for thee

And for thy maintenance: commits his body

To painful labour both by sea and land:

To watch the night in storms, the day in cold;

While thou liest warm at home, secure and safe.

(Taming of the Shrew, Act V. Scene ii.)

Again, in the colloquy entitled Proci et Puella, the lover thus urges his suit.

*Pamphilus*. — Saltem illud responde, utrum est elegantius spectaculum, vitis humi jacens et computrescens, an amplexa palum aut ulmum, eamque purpureis uvis degravans?	*Pamphilus* — Answer me this at least, which is a more beautiful sight, a vine prostrate on the ground and decaying, or encircling a stake or elm, laden with plump purple grapes?
*Maria*.— Responde tu mihi vicissim, utrum spectaculum amoenius, rosa nitens et lactea in suo frutice, an decerpta digitis et marcescens?	*Maria* — Instead you answer me, what sight is more pleasing, a glistening rose milk white on its branch, or held in the hand and withering?
*Pamphilus*.—Ego rosam existimo feliciorem que marcescit in hominis manu, delectans interim et oculos et nares, quam que senescit in frutice, nam et illic futurum erat ut marcesceret.	*Pamphilus* — I am happiest for the rose that withers in man’s hand, delighting meanwhile the eyes and the nose, than that grows old on the branch, where it will likewise wither away.

In writing this passage Erasmus evidently had in view Catullus’s Epithalamium, and we think that it has in its turn supplied the germ of the well-known lines in the Midsummer's Night Dream.

But earthlier happy is the rose distill’d

Than that, which withering on the virgin thorn,

Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.

A little further on in the colloquy last mentioned we find this passage :—

*Maria*. — Attamen favorabilis atque plausibilis apud omneis virginitas.	*Mary* — Nevertheless virginity is favored and applauded among all.
*Pamphilus*.— Elegans quidem res puella virgo: sed quid juxta naturam prodigiosius anu virgine? Nisi matri tuae defluxisset flos ille, nos istum flosculum non haberemus. Quod si, ut spero, non sterile erit nostrum conjugium, pro una virgine multas dabimus.	*Pamphilus* — A young virgin is indeed a beautiful thing: but what is more monstrous than an aged virgin? Unless your mother had been deflowered, we would not have this blossom. Because this is so, as I hope, our union will not be unfruitful, for one virgin we will give back many.

In All’s Well that Ends Well, Act I. Scene ii. Parolles uses similar arguments to Helen.

Parolles.—It is not politic in the common-wealth of nature to preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational increase, and there was never virgin got till virginity was first lost. That you were made of is metal to make virgins. Virginity, by being once lost, may be ten times found: by being ever kept, it is ever lost; ’tis too cold a companion: away with it.

Helen.—I will stand for’t a little, though therefore I die a virgin.

Parolles.—There’s little can be said in it, ’tis against the rule of nature. To speak on behalf of virginity is to accuse your mother’s, which is most infallible disobedience.”

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F.V.