More Promus - 2-4 - Repartee

2. Bacon's Promus entry 198

"Hear me out. [As repartee] You were never in [i.e. "you were never saying anything pertinent"]

now from Shake-Speare:

Love's Labour's Lost 4.1.136:

"And if my hand be out [at archery], then belike your hand is in [with Rosaline].

Comment:  The young courtiers are engaging in banter and double meanings about Rosaline. The Promus entry is one of a number of pieces of repartee devised by Bacon. In this one A says "Hear me out", and B snaps back "You were never in". The Shake-Speare line is likewise repartee based on "in" and "out", though in a different context. This is quoted along with two more in the next two examples of additional repartee by Bacon to show how similar they are in style to Shake-Speare's repartee. Bacon could not have used such repartee in his prose works - only in private conversation and / or in plays.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Bacon's Promus entry 200

"You go from the matter [As repartee] but it was to follow you [i.e. in effect "It was you who go from the matter"]

Then in Shake-Speare's All's Well That Ends Well 2.1.98

"Now, fair one, does your business follow us?  [i.e. what is your business?"]

Comment:  These references to "the matter" or "business" "following" a person seem odd terminology in their contexts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Bacon's Promus entry 204

"You take more than is granted [As repartee] You grant less than is proved".

now from Shake-Speare: Richard II, 3.3.15-7

Bolingbroke:   Mistake not uncle, further than you should.

York:                 Take not good cousin, further than you should,

                           Lest you mistake

and from The Tempest, 2.1.20-1

Gonzalo:    You have spoken truer than you purpos'd.

Sebastian:  You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.

Comment: Very similar types of repartee.