Illustrated biography; or, Memoirs of the great and the good of all nations and all times; comprising sketches of eminent statesmen, philosophers, heroes, artists, reformers, philanthropists, mechanics, navigators, authors, poets, divines, soldiers, savans, etc . ly ornamented, with carved doors of massive oak. The in-terior is spacious, and the architecture and embellishments superior to thoseof most country churches. There are several ancient monuments of nobilityand gentry, over some of which hang funeral escutcheons, and banners drop-ping piecemeal from the walls. The tomb of Shakspere is
Illustrated biography; or, Memoirs of the great and the good of all nations and all times; comprising sketches of eminent statesmen, philosophers, heroes, artists, reformers, philanthropists, mechanics, navigators, authors, poets, divines, soldiers, savans, etc . ly ornamented, with carved doors of massive oak. The in-terior is spacious, and the architecture and embellishments superior to thoseof most country churches. There are several ancient monuments of nobilityand gentry, over some of which hang funeral escutcheons, and banners drop-ping piecemeal from the walls. The tomb of Shakspere is in the place is solemn and sepulchral. Tall elms wave before the pointed win-dows, and the Avon, which runs at a short distance from the walls, keeps up alow perpetual murmur. A flat stone marks the spot where the bard is are four lines inscribed on it, said to have been written by himself, andwhich have in them something extremely awful. If they are indeed his own,they show that solicitude about the quiet of the grave, which seems natural tofine* sen? «bilities and thoughtful minds :— 4 Good friend, for Jesus sake, forbeareTo dig the dust enclosed be he that spares these stones,And curst be he that moves my Shaksperes Tomb. lust over the grave, in a niche of the wall, is a bust of Shakspere, put up(ftwitly after his death, and considered as a resemblance. The aspect is pleas-ant and serene, with a finely arched forehead; and I thought I could read in itclear indications of that cheerful, social disposition, by which he was as muchcharacterized among his contemporaries, as by the vastness of his genius. Theinscription mentions his age at the time of his decease—fifty-two years; an un 160 WILLIAM SHAKSPERE. timely death for the world: for what fruit might not have been expected fromthe golden autumn of such a mind, sheltered as it was from the stormy vicissi-tudes of life, and flourishing in the sunshine of popular and royal fav
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectbiography, bookyear18
