behind what was
his father's shop. Here he may many a time have sat when a boy, watching
the slowly-revolving spit, with all the longing of an urchin; or, of an
evening, listening to the crones and gossips of Stratford, dealing forth
churchyard tales and legendary anecdotes of the troublesome times in
England. In this chair it is the custom of everyone who visits the house
to sit: whether this be done with the hope of imbibing any of the
inspiration of the bard, I am at a loss to say; I merely mention the fact;
and mine hostess privately assured me that, tho built of solid oak, such
was the fervent zeal of devotees, that the chair had to be new-bottomed at
least once in three years. From the birthplace of Shakespeare a few paces
brought me to his grave.... We approached the church through the avenue of
limes, and entered by a Gothic porch, highly ornamented with carved doors
of massive oak. The interior is spacious, and the architecture and
embellishments superior to those of most country churches. There are
several ancient monuments of nobility and gentry, over some of which hang
funeral escutcheons, and banners dropping piecemeal from the walls. The
tomb of Shakespeare is in the chancel. The place is solemn and sepulchral.
Tall elms wave before the pointed windows, and the Avon, which runs at a
short distance from the walls, keeps up a low perpetual murmur. A flat
stone marks the spot where the bard is buried. There are four lines
inscribed on it, said to have been written by himself, and which 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 to fine
sensibilities and thoughtful minds:

"Good friend, for Jesus' sake, forbeare
To dig the dust inclosed here.
Blessed be he that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones."

The inscription on the tombstone has not been without its effect. It has
prevented the removal of his remains from the bosom of his native place to
Westminster Abbey, which was at one time contemplated. A few years since
also, as some laborers were digging to make an adjoining vault, the earth
caved in, so as to leave a vacant space almost like an arch, through which
one might have reached into his grave. No one, however, presumed to meddle
with the remains so awfully guarded by a malediction; and lest any of the
idle or the curious, or any collector of relics, should be tempted to
commit depr