ABSTRACT
Ibeginwithtwoperceptions:first,theobservationofRobertY.TurnerthatEnglishcomedy didnotreallyfindasuccessfulwaytodramatizeloveinanypsychologicalsensebefore Lylybeganhiscareerasaplaywright,and second,thatofAlfredHarbageandothersthat Love'sLabour'sLostisthemostLylyanof Shakespeare'splays. 1TheLylyplaythat immediatelyinvitesattentioninthisregardis SapphoandPhao,writteninr584,since,like Shakespeare'sLove'sLabour'sLost,itendsina lackofromanticcompletionfortheyoung lovers. 2WithoutwishingtoarguethatShakespeareturneddirectlytoSapphoandPhaoasa kindofsource,Ishouldliketoaskwhatwecan learnfromexammmgthesetwoplays together.Theyarebothcentredontheexperienceofyoungmenandwomenastheymeet oneanotherforthefirsttimeinamorous encounter,andinbothplaystheexperienceisa difficultone,evokinginthemensensationsof apprehension,curiosity,fascinationofcourse butalsodiminishedself-regardandhumiliation,allleadingultimatelytoacollapseorat leastpostponementofthenegotiationsinlove. Bothplaysfeatureaprincessorqueenwhose independenceandregalself-assuranceinspire anoutspokennessinthewomenaroundher thatthemenfind,invaryingdegrees,threatening.3
