REFERENCES TO SYPHILIS IN THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE By FRANCIS R. PACKARD, M.D. PHILADELPHIA, PA. HERE are several general refer­ Adam. Though I look old, yet I am strongand lusty; ences to venereal diseases in the For in my youth I never did apply plays of Shakespeare, besides Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood; Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo many passages which refer to The means of weakness and debility; Tthem directly. Therefore my age is as a lusty winter, Frosty, but kindly. Edgar. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plague us:1 . “Timon of Athens” is especially replete with This does not refer to venereal disease but details bearing on syphilis in all its stages, to the illegitimate birth of Edgar, although primary, secondary, and tertiary, showing it is very frequently used as a quotation that Shakespeare clearly understood the applicable to diseases arising from vicious different phases of the disease and their habits. various manifestations. In many passages In ‘‘As You Like It,”2 the duke tells Jacques in other plays he shows a quite remarkable that his sermonizing is but the result of insight into the complaint. the libertine life he, Jacques, has led in his There is much obscurity as to the origin youth: of syphilis on the continent of Europe. Its first historic appearance was at the Duke. Most mischievous foul sin, in chiding sin: siege of Naples by the French under Charles For thou thyself hast been a libertine, viii, in 1495, when it broke out in epidemic As sensual as the brutish sting itself; And all the embossed sores, and headed evils form in the French camp. The French That thou with license of free foot hast caught, attributed the outbreak to contagion from Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world. the’Spanish living in Naples. The latter were said to have acquired the disease in their Adam3 is supposed to refer to his chastity native country whither it had been brought in youth when speaking of the means by sailors with Columbus returning from whereby he attained a lusty old age: his first voyage to America. That some form of syphilis existed in Europe previous 1 King Lear, v, iii, 193-194. 211, vii, 65-70. to that time is, however, highly probable. 3 As You Like It, 11, iii, 47-53. It is likely that much of the so-called leprosy so prevalent in European countries prior Countess. Will your answer serve fit to all to the recognition of syphilis was of a questions? syphilitic nature. Clown. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffeta Professor Sudhoff has published a number punk. of facsimiles of documents printed about the end of the fifteenth century which show In “A Midsummer-Night’s Dream,”7 the that the disease was then well recognized players jest on the loss of hair (alopecia) and he inclines to the belief that such recog­ which occurs in syphilis and is frequently nition antedates considerably the voyage associated with the corona Veneris. Bottom of Columbus. expresses his willingness to play the part of Pyramus: When its origin, its gravity and its frequency had become recognized every Bottom. I will discharge it in either your straw­ nation sought to attach the blame for its colour beard, your orange-tawney beard, your introduction into the world on some other. purple-in-grain beard, or your French-crown-colour Until the publication of Sudhoff’s mono­ beard, your perfect yellow. Quince. Some of your French crowns have no graphs4 the fact that syphilis was more hair at all, and then you will play bare-faced. generally known by the name “French disease” than by any other, led to the The clown Costard in “Love’s Labour’s belief that this was because it had been Lost”8 quibbles on the French crown as spread by the French soldiers after their follows: return from Naples. But Sudhoff has found Costard. Remuneration, why, it is a prescriptions and directions for the treat­ fairer name than French crown. I will never buy ment of what he considers must have been and sell out of this word. syphilis, antedating the siege of Naples In the brothel at Mitylene,9 when Boult by many years, and in some of them and the bawd are discussing a former the disease is distinctly spoken of as “the customer, a Frenchman, we find the follow­ French disease.” Shakespeare uses this term ing punning reference: on several occasions. Bawd. Well, well; as for him, he brought his Pistol. News have I, that my Nell is dead i’ the disease hither: here he does but repair it. I know, spital he will come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns Of malady of France;5 . in the sun. In the following dialogue10 reference is One of the most conspicuous symptoms made to the contagious nature of syphilis of the disease, the corona Veneris, was made in Lucio’s refusal to drink out of a vessel by Shakespeare the subject of several previously used by a syphilitic: jests in which the French origin of the disease is indicated by terming this eruption Lucio. I will, out of thine own confession, learn to on the forehead “the French crown.” begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. Thus the clown in “All’s Well that Ends First Gentl. I think I have done myself wrong, Well,”6 answers the countess in a manner have I not? which would now be considered very im­ Second Gentl. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou proper, although at that time the mention art tainted or free. of such matters in public was not regarded Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madame Mitiga­ as at all unseemly: tion comes! First Gentl. I have purchased as many diseases 4 Graphische und typographische Erstlinge der under her roof as come to— Syphilis-literature; and Aus der Friihgeschichte der 71, ii, 94~99- Syphilis, 1912. 8 hi, i, 145-148. 5 Henry v. v, i, 86-87. 9 Pericles, iv, iii, 119-122. 611, ii, 20-24. 10 Measure for Measure, 1 ii, 38-62. Second Gentl. To what, I pray? And in “King Henry iv”:15 Lucio. Judge. Second Gentl. To three thousand dolours a year. Falstaff. If the cook help to make the gluttony, First Gentl. Ay, and more. you help to make the diseases, Doll; we catch of you, Lucio. A French crown more. Doll, we catch of you; grant that, my poor virtue, First Gentl. Thou art always figuring diseases grant that. in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound. The freedom of speech in polite circles Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are on the subject of syphilis is curiously illus­ hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. trated when Iachimo, who is supposed to Enter Mistress Overdone. be a man of polished manners, although First Gentl. How now? Which of your hips has a villain, speaks in the following passage16 the most profound sciatica? to Imogen, the perfect picture of a pure The “hollow bones” and the “profound highminded lady. He is trying to deceive sciatica” are both allusions to the tertiary her into the belief that her loved Posthumus symptoms of syphilis. has forgotten her in the pleasures of a Ben Johnson in “Every Man Out of His licentious life in Rome. Humour”11 also refers to syphilis as the Iachimo. With diseased ventures French pox. That play for gold with all infirmities, Carlo Buffone. Ay, do you make a wonder Which rottenness can lend nature! Such boiled on’t? Why it’s your only physic. Let a man stuff sweat once a week in a hot house, and be well As well might poison poison. rubbed and frotted, with a good, plump, juicy The name pox as applied to syphilis wench, and sweet linen, he shall ne’er have the must have come into use in England at pox. an early period after the introduction of Pontavarlo. What the French pox? Carlo Buffone. The French pox! Our pox: the disease into that country, which is s’blood we have here as good form as they supposed to have been in 1496. The term man, what? was frequently used in cursing. Thersites12 speaks of syphilis as the Trinculo. A pox o’ your bottle! this can sack Neapolitan disease: and drinking do.17 Thersites. After this, the vengeance on the Timon of Athens in his terrible adjuration whole camp! or rather, the Neapolitan boneache, of the mistress of Alcibiades18 uses the for that, methinks, is the curse dependent on those that war for a placket. epithet most appropriately: Thersites also refers to a symptom that was Timon. Be whores still; very generally known as a symptom of And he whose pious breath seeks to convert syphilis: you, Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up; Thersites. Now the dry serpigo on the subject, Let your close fire predominate his smoke, and war and lechery confound all!13 And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains, six The contraction of syphilis from profes­ months sional prostitutes is a matter of frequent Be quite contrary. Thatch your poor thin roofs With burdens of the dead: some that were allusion: hanged, Mariana. For me, No matter: wear them, betray with them. Whore That am a maid, though most ungentle fortune still; Hath placed me in this sty, where, since I came, Paint till a horse may mire upon your face.