The Astrology Of Shakespeare.

ancl Avitnessed some of the princely SIIOAVS and pageantry displayed on tbe visit of Queen Elizabeth to her favourite , Leicester . There is probability in this , for the castle Avas only a few miles distant from the poet ' s homo , ancl this visit may have first turned bis youthful fancy to tho drama— " poetry in action . " His poetic genius stands miriA'alled , and his manners ivere no doubt singularl y refinedfor he is termed by his contemporaries— " the gentle Shakespeare . " His

, sonnets are written in an extremel y amorous vein , and although tbey are ostensibly dedicated to a male personage , still there is no doubt that tbe mysterious " Mr . W . IT . " was a Avoman . Shakespeare ' s marriage is said to have been unhappy , tbe general fate ot tbe poet , AVIIO rarely has the good fortune to choose as a mate one whose nativity sympathises with his own . Jupiter appears to bave also been powerful in aspect . He brought Avealtb

to the natiA'e , for Shakespeare contrived to amass a fortune . The bent of the poet's mind partook largely of what is termed the Jovial element . He shines most in comedy . Dr . Johnson says— "His tragedy appears to have been skill , bis comedy instinct . " Shakespeare was singularly free from ambition . He made no collection of bis Avorks , perhaps through the loftiness of bis ideal , which led him to be dissatisfied with his own creations , or perhaps through tbe

lack of appreciation of his family , who appear to have clone their best to cause bis connection with the stage to be forgotten . Ho is thoroughly oblivious of self ; we glean nothing of his individual life from his Avritings ; be transfuses bis soul into bis creations , ancl is as a voice from the spirit Avorld . We conclude , therefore , Shakespeare to have been of a mild , easy , goodnatured , and unselfish disposition , overflowing Avitb bonhomie , ancl deli ghting most in fancies ancl imagery of a pleasing character . His soul is not enshrouded in gloom like Dante ' s ; be is not Saturnine , but swayed by Venus ancl Jovial influences .

If we add to this a favourable aspect of Mars to Mercury , we shall account for the acuteuess of bis perceptions and also for the Bohemian tendencies ( the natural concomitants of the poetic temperament ) which may be gathered from legends of bis youth . There is no doubt that the portrait of Justice Shallow was drawn from tbe original Sir Thomas Lucy , of Charlecot Manor , ancl that the words— " You have beaten my men , killed my deer , ancl broken open my

lodge , " Avere actuall y addressed to the youthful scapegrace by the aggrieved magistrate . At the period of Shakespeare ' s arrival in London , tbe national mind bad been roused to enthusiasm by the preparations made to resist the Spanish Armada , ancl the national pride bad been gratified b y its defeat and dispersion . Doubtless the noble soul of Shakespeare shared these sentiments to the utmost , ancl some of his finest ancl most patriotic passages derived theii ; inspiration from this source . Take , for instance , tbe words of John of Gaunt , in which be alludes to the ruling star of England—Mars in Aries .

This royal throne of kings , this sceptr'd isle , This earth of majesty , this seat of Mars , This other Eden , demi-Paradise , This fortress built by nature for herself Against infection and the hand of Avar , This happy breed of men , this little world , This precious stone set in the silver sea , This blessed spot , this earth , this realm , this England

The age m Avhich Shakespeare lived A \* as noted for the new theories of philosophers in the science of Astronomy . The hitherto received planetary system of Ptolemy was gradually losing its adherents and declining in favour , except amongst tbe feAV who peristently adhered to old beliefs . The teachings of Copernicus , who published bis celebrated work on the revolution , of the beaA'enl y bodies a few years before the birth of Shakespeare , were eno-a ° -inothe attention of tbe learned . Tycbo Brabe , tbe successor of Copernicus , F 2