Read, if thou canst, whom envious death hath placed
Within this monument,—Shakspeare; with whom
Quick Nature died; whose name doth deck the tomb
Far more than cost; since all that he hath writ
Leaves living Art but page to serve his wit:
and on the flat stone covering the grave is inscribed, in very irregular characters, the following quaint supplication, blessing, and menace:—
Good Friend, for Jesvs sake forbeare
To digg T-E dvst EncloAsed HERE;
Blest be T-E Man T
Y spares T-hs stones,
And evrst be He T
Y moves my bones.