. Shakespeare's England . erchance he pauses at the corner of BrutonStreet, will not discern Colley Gibber, in wig andruffles, standing at the parlour window and drummingwith his hands on the frame. The casual passenger,halting at the Tavistock, will not remember that thiswas once Macklins Ordinary, and so conjure up theiron visage and ferocious aspect of the first greatShylock of the British stage, formally obsequious tohis guests, or striving to edify them, despite the ban-ter of the volatile Foote, with discourse upon theCauses of Duelling in Ireland. The Barbican doesnot to every one summo
. Shakespeare's England . erchance he pauses at the corner of BrutonStreet, will not discern Colley Gibber, in wig andruffles, standing at the parlour window and drummingwith his hands on the frame. The casual passenger,halting at the Tavistock, will not remember that thiswas once Macklins Ordinary, and so conjure up theiron visage and ferocious aspect of the first greatShylock of the British stage, formally obsequious tohis guests, or striving to edify them, despite the ban-ter of the volatile Foote, with discourse upon theCauses of Duelling in Ireland. The Barbican doesnot to every one summon the austere memory of Mil-ton ; nor Holborn raise the melancholy shade of Chat-terton; nor Tower Hill arouse the gloomy ghost of 116 SHAKESPEARES ENGLAND CHAP. Otway ; nor Hampstead lure forth the sunny figure ofSteele and the passionate face of Keats; nor old Nor-thumberland Street suggest the burly presence of rareBen Jonson ; nor opulent Kensington revive the statelyhead of Addison; nor a certain window in Wellington. Street reveal in fancyspicture the rugged lin-r^vrvii«-T;il eaments and splendideyes of Dickens. YetLondon never disappoints; and for him who knowsand feels its history these associations, and hundredslike to these, make it populous with noble or strangeor pathetic figures, and diversify the aspect of its vitalpresent with pictures of an equally vital past. Such awanderer discovers that in this vast capital there isliterally no end to the themes that are to stir his imagi- XI WESTMINSTER. ABBEY 117 nation, touch his heart, and broaden his mind. Soothedalready by the equable English climate and the lovelyEnglish scenery, he is aware now of an influence inthe solid English city that turns his intellectual life toperfect tranquillity. He stands amid achievements thatare finished, careers that are consummated, great deedsthat are done, great memories that are immortal; heviews and comprehends the sum of all that is possibleto human thought, passion, and labour;
Size: 1636px × 1528px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidshakespeares, bookyear1895
