"Now is the proverb verified in you"

The Proverbial Bridge Between Florio and Shakespeare

Among the many neglected chapters of Renaissance literary history, Florio’s connection with the theatrical company Leicester’s Men and his profound influence on Shakespeare through their shared love of proverbs deserves renewed attention.

In 1578, Florio released his debut work, First Fruits, a bilingual English-Italian manual for language learners, a genre often dismissed today as utilitarian, but which in Florio’s hands became a literary artifact rich with idioms, wit, and cultural commentary. What makes this publication particularly extraordinary, however, is its dedication: four members of the Leicester’s Men, England’s foremost acting troupe of the time, contributed laudatory poems in Florio’s honor.

These actors—Richard Tarlton, Robert Wilson, Thomas Clarke, and John Bentley—were more than mere performers. They were cultural emissaries of the Elizabethan stage, and their verses to Florio confirm not only admiration but an active collaboration: