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Shaksperes, Monument in the
Church at Stratford upon.

Avon

London, Printed for J.Bell, British Library, Strand, Decem1o 1786.

TH

at Stratford, where a monument, as engraved in the plate, is placed in the wall *. On his grave-stone underneath is,

Good friend; for Jesus' sake forbear
To dig the dust inclosed here.

Blest be the man that spares these stones,

And curst be he that moves my bones †•

"And his own goodnesse, with himself being gone, "Shall live when earthly monument is none.

"Not monumentall stone preserves our fame,

66

Nor skye aspiring Piramids our name;

"The memory of him for whom this stands,
"Shall out-live marble and defacers' hands:
"When all to time's consumption shall be given,
"Stanley, for whom this stands, shall stand in Heaven."
From C. 35. fol. 20. in the College of Arms.

F. TOWNSEND. *He died on his birth-day, April 23, 1616, and had exactly completed his fifty-second year. MALONE.

+"And curst be he that moves my bones."

It is uncertain whether this epitaph was written by Shakspere himself, or by one of his friends after his death. The imprecation contained in this last line might have been suggested by an apprehension that our author's remains might share the same fate with those of the rest of his countrymen, and be added to the immense pile of human bones deposited in the charnel-house at Stratford. This, however, is mere conjecture; for similar execrations are found in many ancient Latin epitaphs. MALONE.

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He had three daughters, of which two lived to be married; Judith, the elder, to one Mr. Thomas Quiney, by whom she had three sons, who all died without children; and Susanna, who was his favourite, to Dr. John Hall, a physician of good reputation in that country. She left one child only, a daughter, who was married, first, to Thomas Nash, esq. and afterwards to Sir John Bernard of Abbington, but died likewise without issue*.

This is what I could learn of any note, either relating to himself or family: the character of the man is best seen in his writings. But since Ben Jonson has made a sort of an essay towards it in his Discoveries, I will give it in his words:

"I remember the players have often mentioned it "as an honour to Shakspere, that in writing (what66 soever he penned) he never blotted out a line. My "answer hath been, Would he had blotted a thousand! "which they thought a malevolent speech. I had "not told posterity this, but for their ignorance, "who chose that circumstance to commend their friend "by, wherein he most faulted and to justify mine "own candour, for I loved the man, and do honour

his memory, on this side idolatry, as much as any. "He was, indeed, honest, and of an open and free “nature, had an excellent fancy, brave notions, and "gentle expressions; wherein he flowed with that

*This, however, is a mistake, as will appear by the pedi gree annexed to the list of baptisms, &c. REED.

"facility,

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