In 1594, the epic poem "Lucrece" was printed
with the name of the dedicating author William Shakespeare .
There is evidence (in Draytons Poeem " Matilda" 1594, line 36-42 ) that a tragedy of "The Rape of Lucrece" by Thomas Heywood was acted on the London stage.
A Print of this play does exist from 1608
A Print of this play does exist from 1608
Are we really to believe that Lucrece, appeared in the same year 1594 as a narrative Poem by William Shakespeare , as a stage Play (tragedy) by Thomas Heywood, and as a Poem by Michael Drayton?
Isn't it more plausible and likely in 1594 (the first year after Marlowe's Life catastrophy) that the author / inventor of the poetic metaphor of the crime of Tarquin versus Lucrece was always the same who published his (auto) biographic parable as different literary Genres. Why there isn't a more consistent explanation for these strange observations by Shakespeare experts? _________________________
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