Shakespeare's England . osefigures from the storied past. Beneath this roof — thesoul and the perfect symbol of sublimity! — are rangedmore than fourscore monuments to heroic martial per-sons who have died for England, by land or sea. Here,too, are gathered in everlasting repose the honouredrelics of men who were famous in the arts of and Opie, Lawrence and West, Landseer,Turner, Cruikshank, and many more, sleep under thesculptured pavement where now the pilgrim walks. Forfifteen centuries a Christian church has stood upon thisspot, and through it has poured, with organ strains
Shakespeare's England . osefigures from the storied past. Beneath this roof — thesoul and the perfect symbol of sublimity! — are rangedmore than fourscore monuments to heroic martial per-sons who have died for England, by land or sea. Here,too, are gathered in everlasting repose the honouredrelics of men who were famous in the arts of and Opie, Lawrence and West, Landseer,Turner, Cruikshank, and many more, sleep under thesculptured pavement where now the pilgrim walks. Forfifteen centuries a Christian church has stood upon thisspot, and through it has poured, with organ strains andglancing lights, an endless procession of prelates andstatesmen, of poets and warriors and kings. Surelythis is hallowed and haunted ground! Surely to himthe spirits of the mighty dead would be very near, who — alone, in the darkness — should stand to-night withinthose sacred walls, and hear, beneath that awful dome,the mellow thunder of the bells of God. How looks, to-night, the interior of the chapel of the. ^5 lit 250 SHAKESPEARES ENGLAND chap. Foundling hospital ? Dark and lonesome, no doubt,with its heavy galleries and sombre pews, and the greatorgan — Handels gift — standing there, mute and grim,between the ascending tiers of empty seats. But never,in my remembrance, will it cease to present a picturemore impressive and touching than words can of white-robed children, rescued from shame andpenury by this noble benevolence, were ranged aroundthat organ when I saw it, and, with artless, frail littlevoices, singing a hymn of praise and worship. Well-nigh one hundred and fifty years have passed since thisgrand institution of charity — the sacred work andblessed legacy of Captain Thomas Coram — was estab-lished in this place. What a divine good it has accom-plished, and continues to accomplish, and what a pureglory hallows its founders name! Here the poormother, betrayed and deserted, may take her child andfind for it a safe and happy home and a c
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectshakespearewilliam15
