The above line is one of my favorite plays on words! From the Peabody's Improbable History cartoon episode 49 [William] Shakespeare (1961), which introduced me at a young age to the Bacon-Shakespere controversy. Unfortunately, I cannot find an online video of the episode:
The episode begins with Mr. Peabody announcing they are going to visit Mr. William Shakespeare. The scene changes to where our intrepid characters are standing outside an Elizabethan theatre with a sign that says, "Romeo and Zelda" by William Shakespeare.Sherman looks up bewildered by the sign. Let's pick up the dialogue from here....
Sherman- Now playing a new play, Romeo and Zelda?
Mr. Peabody- must be a misprint.
Narrator-But it wasn't, for inside the theatre the play was in rehearsal.
From outside a Balcony, an actor can be heard....
"Zelda, where art thou Zelda?
Mr. Peabody -(narrates) Instead of opening on the Balcony, Juliet or rather Zelda came marching out of the wings of the theatre carrying a large flower pot. She left the stage and went directly to a familiar figure who was sitting all alone in the first row.
Sherman- That must be William Shakespeare Mr. Peabody! Look Zelda's gonna present him with a flower!
Mr. Peabody- She's presenting him with a flower all right......
CLUNK! (Zelda hits Shakespeare over the head with the flower pot. "Zelda" removes her mask and is revealed to be Francis Bacon underneath!) Bacon yells at a dazed Shakespeare, "That'll teach you to steal my plays!"
Sherman- It's a man wearing a disguise!
Shakespeare- Bacon! You'll fry for this!
Sherman- "Oh heart what hollow light burneth in yonder patio!"
(Shakespeare is clutching his sore head while pointing to Sherman and says), E gad,the lad's an ad libber!
(Sherman continues his role as Romeo below the balcony and begins to climb a ladder up to the balcony and says), Zelda, I mean, Juliet, where art thou Juliet?
Peabody-(narrates) You can well imagine Sherman's dismay when instead of a lovely young maiden, a lion appeared with a very loud roar! In one prodigious leap the lion left the balcony and proceeded to empty the theatre.
(the lion turns to go after Mr. Peabody, Sherman, and Shakespeare)
Shakespeare--Run for your lives the performance is canceled!
Peabody- No need to panic, we'll simply ring the curtain down! (the curtain comes crashing down on the lion and knocks him out)
Shakespeare-(holding his brow in shock) The tragedy that this should happen to me! If I find the rogue who owned that beast !!!......
suddenly, Francis Bacon appears again pointing to himself and exclaims... That beast is mine!
Shakespeare (surprised)--Bacon!
Bacon- With eggs!! (Bacon lets fly some eggs that break on Shakespeare's face)
