There is nothing remarkable about the pleasant church of Stratford, which contains the poet's grave. It is situated near the banks of the Avon, and the old sexton escorted us through an avenue of trees to its great Gothic door, which he unlocked, and we were soon before the familiar monument, which is in a niche in the chancel. It is the well-known, half-length figure, above which is his coat of arms, surmounted by a skull, and upon either side figures of Cupid, one holding an inverted torch, and the other a skull and a spade. Beneath the cushion, upon which the poet is represented as writing, is this inscription:—
"Jvdicio Pylivm Genio Socratem Arte Maronem Terra Tegit
Popvlvs Mœret Olympvs Habet.
"Stay, passenger; who goest thou by so fast?
Read, if thou canst, whom envious death has plast
Within this monument: Shakespeare, with whome
Qvicke natvre died; whose name doth deck ys tombe
Far more than cost; sith all yt he hath writt
Leaves living art but page to serve his witt.
"Obiit Ano Doi, 1616.
Ætatis 53, Die 23 Ap."
This half-length figure, we are told, was originally painted after nature, the eyes being hazel, and the hair and beard auburn, the dress a scarlet doublet, slashed on the breast, over which was a loose, sleeveless black gown; but in 1793 it was painted all over white.