Hethinkshimselfgreat；
Yetanasseinhisstate，
Weallowbyhisearsbutwithassestomate，
IfLucyislowsie，assomevolkemiscalleit，
ThensinglowsieLucywhateverbefallit。
Thisflagitiousattackuponthedignityoftheknightsoincensed
him，thatheappliedtoalawyeratWarwicktoputtheseverityofthe
lawsinforceagainsttherhymingdeer—stalker。Shakspearedidnot
waittobravetheunitedpuissanceofaknightoftheshireanda
countryattorney。Heforthwithabandonedthepleasantbanksofthe
Avonandhispaternaltrade；wanderedawaytoLondon；becamea
hanger—ontothetheatres；thenanactor；and，finally，wrotefor
thestage；andthus，throughthepersecutionofSirThomasLucy，
Stratfordlostanindifferentwool—comber，andtheworldgainedan
immortalpoet。Heretained，however，foralongtime，asenseofthe
harshtreatmentoftheLordofCharlecot，andrevengedhimselfin
hiswritings；butinthesportivewayofagood—naturedmind。Sir
ThomasissaidtobetheoriginalJusticeShallow，andthesatireis
slylyfixeduponhimbythejustice’sarmorialbearings，which，like
thoseoftheknight，hadwhiteluces*inthequarterings。
*Theluceisapikeorjack，andaboundsintheAvonabout
Charlecot。
Variousattemptshavebeenmadebyhisbiographerstosoftenand
explainawaythisearlytransgressionofthepoet；butIlookupon
itasoneofthosethoughtlessexploitsnaturaltohissituationand
turnofmind。Shakspeare，whenyoung，haddoubtlessallthewildness
andirregularityofanardent，undisciplined，andundirectedgenius。
Thepoetictemperamenthasnaturallysomethinginitofthe
vagabond。Whenlefttoitselfitrunslooselyandwildly，anddelights
ineverythingeccentricandlicentious。Itisoftenaturn—upofa
die，inthegamblingfreaksoffate，whetheranaturalgeniusshall
turnoutagreatrogueoragreatpoet；andhadnotShakspeare’s
mindfortunatelytakenaliterarybias，hemighthaveasdaringly
transcendedallcivil，ashehasalldramaticlaws。
Ihavelittledoubtthat，inearlylife，whenrunning，likean
unbrokencolt，abouttheneighborhoodofStratford，hewastobefound
inthecompanyofallkindsofoddanomalouscharacters；thathe
associatedwithallthemadcapsoftheplace，andwasoneofthose
unluckyurchins，atmentionofwhomoldmenshaketheirheads，and
predictthattheywillonedaycometothegallows。Tohimthe
poachinginSirThomasLucy’sparkwasdoubtlesslikeaforaytoa
Scottishknight，andstruckhiseager，and，asyetuntamed，
imagination，assomethingdelightfullyadventurous。*
*AproofofShakspeare’srandomhabitsandassociatesinhis
youthfuldaysmaybefoundinatraditionaryanecdote，pickedupat
StratfordbytheelderIreland，andmentionedinhis\"Picturesque
ViewsontheAvon。\"
AboutsevenmilesfromStratfordliesthethirstylittlemarkettown
ofBedford，famousforitsale。Twosocietiesofthevillage
yeomanryusedtomeet，undertheappellationoftheBedfordtopers，
andtochallengetheloversofgoodaleoftheneighboringvillagesto
acontestofdrinking。Amongothers，thepeopleofStratfordwere
calledouttoprovethestrengthoftheirheads；andinthenumber
ofthechampionswasShakspeare，who，inspiteoftheproverbthat
\"theywhodrinkbeerwillthinkbeer，\"wasastruetohisaleas
Falstafftohissack。ThechivalryofStratfordwasstaggeredatthe
firstonset，andsoundedaretreatwhiletheyhadyetlegstocarry
themoffthefield。Theyhadscarcelymarchedamilewhen，their
legsfailingthem，theywereforcedtoliedownunderacrab—tree，
wheretheypassedthenight。Itisstillstanding，andgoesbythe
nameofShakspeare’stree。
Inthemorninghiscompanionsawakedthebard，andproposed
returningtoBedford，buthedeclined，sayinghehadhadenoughhaving
drankwith
PipingPebworth，DancingMarston，
HauntedHilbro’，HungryGrafton，
DrudgingExhall，PapistWicksford，
BeggarlyBroom，andDrunkenBedford。
\"Thevillagesherealludedto，\"saysIreland，\"stillbearthe
epithetsthusgiventhem：thepeopleofPebwortharestillfamedfor
theirskillonthepipeandtabor；HilboroughisnowcalledHaunted
Hilborough；andGraftonisfamousforthepovertyofitssoil。\"
TheoldmansionofCharlecotanditssurroundingparkstillremain
inthepossessionoftheLucyfamily，andarepeculiarly
interesting，frombeingconnectedwiththiswhimsicalbuteventful
circumstanceinthescantyhistoryofthebard。Asthehousestoodbut
littlemorethanthreemiles’distancefromStratford，Iresolvedto
payitapedestrianvisit，thatImightstrollleisurelythrough
someofthosescenesfromwhichShakspearemusthavederivedhis
earliestideasofruralimagery。
Thecountrywasyetnakedandleafless；butEnglishsceneryis
alwaysverdant，andthesuddenchangeinthetemperatureofthe
weatherwassurprisinginitsquickeningeffectsuponthelandscape。
Itwasinspiringandanimatingtowitnessthisfirstawakeningof
spring；tofeelitswarmbreathstealingoverthesenses；toseethe
moistmellowearthbeginningtoputforththegreensproutandthe
tenderblade：andthetreesandshrubs，intheirrevivingtintsand
burstingbuds，givingthepromiseofreturningfoliageandflower。The
coldsnow—drop，thatlittlebordererontheskirtsofwinter，wasto
beseenwithitschastewhiteblossomsinthesmallgardensbeforethe
cottages。Thebleatingofthenew—droptlambswasfaintlyheardfrom
thefields。Thesparrowtwitteredaboutthethatchedeavesandbudding
hedges；therobinthrewaliveliernoteintohislatequerulouswintry
strain；andthelark，springingupfromthereekingbosomofthe
meadow，toweredawayintothebrightfleecycloud，pouringforth
torrentsofmelody。AsIwatchedthelittlesongster，mountingup
higherandhigher，untilhisbodywasamerespeckonthewhite
bosomofthecloud，whiletheearwasstillfilledwithhismusic，
itcalledtomindShakspeare’sexquisitelittlesonginCymbeline：
Hark！hark！thelarkatheaven’sgatesings，
AndPhoebus’ginsarise，
Hissteedstowateratthosesprings，
Onchalicedflowersthatlies。
Andwinkingmary—budsbegin
Toopetheirgoldeneyes；
Witheverythingthatprettybin，
Myladysweetarise！
Indeedthewholecountryabouthereispoeticground：everythingis
associatedwiththeideaofShakspeare。EveryoldcottagethatI
saw，Ifanciedintosomeresortofhisboyhood，wherehehad
acquiredhisintimateknowledgeofrusticlifeandmanners，and
heardthoselegendarytalesandwildsuperstitionswhichhehas
wovenlikewitchcraftintohisdramas。Forinhistime，wearetold，
itwasapopularamusementinwinterevenings\"tositroundthe
fire，andtellmerrytalesoferrantknights，queens，lovers，lords，
ladies，giants，dwarfs，thieves，cheaters，witches，fairies，
goblins，andfriars。\"*
*Scot，inhis\"DiscoverieofWitchcraft，\"enumeratesahostof
thesefiresidefancies。\"Andtheyhavesofraiduswith
bull—beggars，spirits，witches，urchins，elves，hags，fairies，satyrs，
pans，faunes，syrens，kitwiththecansticke，tritons，centaurs，
dwarfes，giantes，imps，calcars，conjurors，nymphes，changelings，
incubus，Robin—good—fellow，thespoorne，themare，themanintheoke，
thehell—waine，thefierdrake，thepuckle，TomThombe，hobgoblins，
TomTumbler，boneless，andsuchotherbugs，thatwewereafraidofour
ownshadowes。\"
MyrouteforapartofthewaylayinsightoftheAvon，which
madeavarietyofthemostfancydoublingsandwindingsthroughawide
andfertilevalley；sometimesglitteringfromamongwillows，which
fringeditsborders；sometimesdisappearingamonggroves，orbeneath
greenbanks；andsometimesramblingoutintofullview，andmaking
anazuresweeproundaslopeofmeadowland。Thisbeautifulbosomof
countryiscalledtheValeoftheRedHorse。Adistantlineof
undulatingbluehillsseemstobeitsboundary，whilstallthesoft
interveninglandscapeliesinamannerenchainedinthesilverlinks
oftheAvon。
Afterpursuingtheroadforaboutthreemiles，Iturnedoffintoa
footpath，whichledalongthebordersoffields，andunderhedgerows
toaprivategateofthepark；therewasastile，however，forthe
benefitofthepedestrian；therebeingapublicrightofwaythrough
thegrounds。Idelightinthesehospitableestates，inwhicheveryone
hasakindofproperty—atleastasfarasthefootpathis
concerned。Itinsomemeasurereconcilesapoormantohislot，and，
whatismore，tothebetterlotofhisneighbor，thustohaveparks
andpleasure—groundsthrownopenforhisrecreation。Hebreathesthe
pureairasfreely，andlollsasluxuriouslyundertheshade，asthe
lordofthesoil；andifhehasnottheprivilegeofcallingall
thatheseeshisown，hehasnot，atthesametime，thetroubleof
payingforit，andkeepingitinorder。
Inowfoundmyselfamongnobleavenuesofoaksandelms，whose
vastsizebespokethegrowthofcenturies。Thewindsoundedsolemnly
amongtheirbranches，andtherookscawedfromtheirhereditary
nestsinthetreetops。Theeyerangedthroughalonglesseningvista，
withnothingtointerrupttheviewbutadistantstatue；andavagrant
deerstalkinglikeashadowacrosstheopening。
Thereissomethingaboutthesestatelyoldavenuesthathasthe
effectofGothicarchitecture，notmerelyfromthepretended
similarityofform，butfromtheirbearingtheevidenceoflong
duration，andofhavinghadtheirorigininaperiodoftimewith
whichweassociateideasofromanticgrandeur。Theybetokenalsothe
long—settleddignity，andproudly—concentratedindependenceofan
ancientfamily；andIhaveheardaworthybutaristocraticold
friendobserve，whenspeakingofthesumptuouspalacesofmodern
gentry，that\"moneycoulddomuchwithstoneandmortar，but，thank
Heaven，therewasnosuchthingassuddenlybuildingupanavenueof
oaks。\"
Itwasfromwanderinginearlylifeamongthisrichscenery，and
abouttheromanticsolitudesoftheadjoiningparkofFullbroke，which
thenformedapartoftheLucyestate，thatsomeofShakspeare’s
commentatorshavesupposedhederivedhisnobleforestmeditations
ofJaques，andtheenchantingwoodlandpicturesin\"AsYouLikeIt。\"
Itisinlonelywanderingsthroughsuchscenes，thattheminddrinks
deepbutquietdraughtsofinspiration，andbecomesintenselysensible
ofthebeautyandmajestyofnature。Theimaginationkindlesinto
reverieandrapture；vaguebutexquisiteimagesandideaskeep
breakinguponit；andwerevelinamuteandalmostincommunicable
luxuryofthought。Itwasinsomesuchmood，andperhapsunderone
ofthoseverytreesbeforeme，whichthrewtheirbroadshadesoverthe
grassybanksandquiveringwatersoftheAvon，thatthepoet’sfancy
mayhavesalliedforthintothatlittlesongwhichbreathesthevery
soulofaruralvoluptuary：
Underthegreenwoodtree，
Wholovestoliewithme，
Andtunehismerrythroat
Untothesweetbird’snote，
Comehither，comehither，comehither。
Hereshallhesee
Noenemy，
Butwinterandroughweather。
Ihadnowcomeinsightofthehouse。Itisalargebuildingof
brick，withstonequoins，andisintheGothicstyleofQueen
Elizabeth’sday，havingbeenbuiltinthefirstyearofherreign。The
exteriorremainsverynearlyinitsoriginalstate，andmaybe
consideredafairspecimenoftheresidenceofawealthycountry
gentlemanofthosedays。Agreatgatewayopensfromtheparkintoa
kindofcourtyardinfrontofthehouse，ornamentedwitha
grassplot，shrubs，andflower—beds。Thegatewayisinimitationofthe
ancientbarbican；beingakindofoutpost，andflankedbytowers；
thoughevidentlyformereornament，insteadofdefence。Thefrontof
thehouseiscompletelyintheoldstyle；withstone—shafted
casements，agreatbowwindowofheavystone—work，andaportalwith
armorialbearingsoverit，carvedinstone。Ateachcornerofthe
buildingisanoctagontower，surmountedbyagiltballand
weathercock。
TheAvon，whichwindsthroughthepark，makesabendjustatthe
footofagently—slopingbank，whichsweepsdownfromtherearof
thehouse。Largeherdsofdeerwerefeedingorreposinguponits
borders；andswansweresailingmajesticallyuponitsbosom。AsI
contemplatedthevenerableoldmansion，IcalledtomindFalstaff’s
encomiumonJusticeShallow’sabode，andtheaffectedindifferenceand
realvanityofthelatter：
\"Falstaff。Youhaveagoodlydwellingandarich。
Shallow。Barren，barren，barren；beggarsall，beggarsall，Sir
John：—marry，goodair。\"
Whatevermayhavebeenthejovialityoftheoldmansioninthe
daysofShakspeare，ithadnowanairofstillnessandsolitude。The
greatirongatewaythatopenedintothecourt—yardwaslocked；there
wasnoshowofservantsbustlingabouttheplace；thedeergazed
quietlyatmeasIpassed，beingnolongerharriedbythe
moss—troopersofStratford。TheonlysignofdomesticlifethatI
metwithwasawhitecat，stealingwithwarylookandstealthypace
towardsthestables，asifonsomenefariousexpedition。Imustnot
omittomentionthecarcassofascoundrelcrowwhichIsaw
suspendedagainstthebarnwall，asitshowsthattheLucysstill
inheritthatlordlyabhorrenceofpoachers，andmaintainthatrigorous
exerciseofterritorialpowerwhichwassostrenuouslymanifestedin
thecaseofthebard。
Afterprowlingaboutforsometime，Iatlengthfoundmywaytoa
lateralportal，whichwastheevery—dayentrancetothemansion。Iwas
courteouslyreceivedbyaworthyoldhousekeeper，who，withthe
civilityandcommunicativenessofherorder，showedmetheinteriorof
thehouse。Thegreaterparthasundergonealterations，andbeen
adaptedtomoderntastesandmodesofliving：thereisafineold
oakenstaircase；andthegreathall，thatnoblefeatureinan
ancientmanor—house，stillretainsmuchoftheappearanceitmusthave
hadinthedaysofShakspeare。Theceilingisarchedandlofty；andat
oneendisagalleryinwhichstandsanorgan。Theweaponsand
trophiesofthechase，whichformerlyadornedthehallofacountry
gentleman，havemadewayforfamilyportraits。Thereisawide
hospitablefireplace，calculatedforanampleold—fashionedwoodfire，
formerlytherallying—placeofwinterfestivity。Ontheopposite
sideofthehallisthehugeGothicbowwindow，withstoneshafts，
whichlooksoutuponthecourt—yard。Hereareemblazonedinstained
glassthearmorialbearingsoftheLucyfamilyformanygenerations，
somebeingdatedin1558。Iwasdelightedtoobserveinthe
quarteringsthethreewhiteluces，bywhichthecharacterofSir
ThomaswasfirstidentifiedwiththatofJusticeShallow。Theyare
mentionedinthefirstsceneoftheMerryWivesofWindsor，where
theJusticeisinaragewithFalstaffforhaving\"beatenhismen，
killedhisdeer，andbrokenintohislodge。\"Thepoethadnodoubtthe
offencesofhimselfandhiscomradesinmindatthetime，andwemay
supposethefamilyprideandvindictivethreatsofthepuissant
ShallowtobeacaricatureofthepompousindignationofSirThomas。
\"Shallow。SirHugh，persuademenot；IwillmakeaStar—Chamber
matterofit；ifheweretwentySirJohnFalstaffs，heshallnotabuse
RobertShallow，Esq。
Slender。InthecountyofGloster，justiceofpeace，andcoram。
Shallow。Ay，cousinSlender，andcustalorum。
Slender。Ay，andratalorumtoo，andagentlemanborn，master
parson；whowriteshimselfArmigeroinanybill，warrant，quittance，
orobligation，Armigero。
Shallow。Ay，thatIdo；andhavedoneanytimethesethree
hundredyears。
Slender。Allhissuccessorsgonebeforehimhavedone’t，and
allhisancestorsthatcomeafterhimmay；theymaygivethedozen
whitelucesintheircoat。*****
Shallow。Thecouncilshallhearit；itisariot。
Evans。Itisnotmeetthecouncilhearofariot；thereisno
fearofGotinariot；thecouncil，hearyou，shalldesiretohearthe
fearofGot，andnottohearariot；takeyourvizamentsinthat。
Shallow。Ha！o’mylife，ifIwereyoungagain，thesword
shouldendit！\"
NearthewindowthusemblazonedhungaportraitbySirPeterLely，
ofoneoftheLucyfamily，agreatbeautyofthetimeofCharlesthe
Second：theoldhousekeepershookherheadasshepointedtothe
picture，andinformedmethatthisladyhadbeensadlyaddictedto
cards，andhadgambledawayagreatportionofthefamilyestate，
amongwhichwasthatpartoftheparkwhereShakspeareandhis
comradeshadkilledthedeer。Thelandsthuslosthadnotbeen
entirelyregainedbythefamilyevenatthepresentday。Itisbut
justicetothisrecreantdametoconfessthatshehadasurpassingly
finehandandarm。
Thepicturewhichmostattractedmyattentionwasagreatpainting
overthefireplace，containinglikenessesofSirThomasLucyandhis
family，whoinhabitedthehallinthelatterpartofShakspeare’s
lifetime。Iatfirstthoughtthatitwasthevindictiveknight
himself，butthehousekeeperassuredmethatitwashisson；the
onlylikenessextantoftheformerbeinganeffigyuponhistombin
thechurchoftheneighboringhamletofCharlecot。*Thepicture
givesalivelyideaofthecostumeandmannersofthetime。SirThomas
isdressedinruffanddoublet；whiteshoeswithrosesinthem；and
hasapeakedyellow，or，asMasterSlenderwouldsay，\"a
cane—coloredbeard。\"Hisladyisseatedontheoppositesideofthe
picture，inwideruffandlongstomacher，andthechildrenhaveamost
venerablestiffnessandformalityofdress。Houndsandspanielsare
mingledinthefamilygroup；ahawkisseatedonhisperchinthe
foreground，andoneofthechildrenholdsabow；—allintimatingthe
knight’sskillinhunting，hawking，andarchery—soindispensableto
anaccomplishedgentlemeninthosedays。*（2）
*Thiseffigyisinwhitemarble，andrepresentstheKnightin
completearmor。Nearhimliestheeffigyofhiswife，andonher
tombisthefollowinginscription；which，ifreallycomposedbyher
husband，placeshimquiteabovetheintellectuallevelofMaster
Shallow：
HerelyeththeLadyJoyceLucywifeofSrThomasLucyofCharlecot
inyecountyofWarwick，Knight，DaughterandheirofThomasActon
ofSuttoninyecountyofWorcesterEsquirewhodepartedoutofthis
wretchedworldtoherheavenlykingdomye10dayofFebruaryinye
yeareofourLordGod1595andofherage60andthree。Allthetime
ofherlyfeatrueandfaythfulservantofhergoodGod，never
detectedofanycrymeorvice。Inreligionmostsounde，inlovetoher
husbandmostfaythfulandtrue。Infriendshipmostconstant；towhat
intrustwascommitteduntohermostsecret。Inwisdomexcelling。In
governingofherhouse，bringingupofyouthinyefearofGodthat
didconversewithhermosterareandsingular。Agreatmaintaynerof
hospitality。Greatlyesteemedofherbetters；mislikedofnone
unlessoftheenvyous。Whenallisspokenthatcanbesaideawomanso
garnishedwithvirtueasnottobebetteredandhardlytobe
equalledbyany。Assheelivedmostvirtuouslysosheediedmost
Godly。Setdownebyhimytbestdidknowewhathathbynwrittento
betrue。
ThomasLucy。
*（2）BishopEarle，speakingofthecountrygentlemanofhistime，
observes，\"hishousekeepingisseenmuchinthedifferentfamilies
ofdogs，andserving—menattendantontheirkennels；andthe
deepnessoftheirthroatsisthedepthofhisdiscourse。Ahawkhe
esteemsthetrueburdenofnobility，andisexceedinglyambitiousto
seemdelightedwiththesport，andhavehisfistglovedwithhis
jesses。\"AndGilpin，inhisdescriptionofaMr。Hastings，remarks，
\"hekeptallsortsofhoundsthatrunbuck，fox，hare，otter，and
badger；andhadhawksofallkindsbothlongandshortwinged。His
greathallwascommonlystrewedwithmarrow—bones，andfullofhawk
perches，hounds，spaniels，andterriers。Onabroadhearth，pavedwith
brick，laysomeofthechoicestterriers，hounds，andspaniels。\"
Iregrettedtofindthattheancientfurnitureofthehallhad
disappeared；forIhadhopedtomeetwiththestatelyelbow—chairof
carvedoak，inwhichthecountrysquireofformerdayswaswontto
swaythesceptreofempireoverhisruraldomains；andinwhichit
mightbepresumedtheredoubtedSirThomassatenthronedinawful
statewhentherecreantShakspearewasbroughtbeforehim。AsIlike
todeckoutpicturesformyownentertainment，Ipleasedmyselfwith
theideathatthisveryhallhadbeenthesceneoftheunlucky
bard’sexaminationonthemorningafterhiscaptivityinthelodge。
Ifanciedtomyselftheruralpotentate，surroundedbyhis
body—guardofbutler，pages，andblue—coatedserving—men，withtheir
badges；whilethelucklessculpritwasbroughtin，forlornand
chap—fallen，inthecustodyofgamekeepers，huntsmen，andwhippers—in，
andfollowedbyarabbleroutofcountryclowns。Ifanciedbright
facesofcurioushousemaidspeepingfromthehalf—openeddoors；
whilefromthegallerythefairdaughtersoftheknightleaned
gracefullyforward，eyeingtheyouthfulprisonerwiththatpity
\"thatdwellsinwomanhood。\"—Whowouldhavethoughtthatthispoor
varlet，thustremblingbeforethebriefauthorityofacountrysquire，
andthesportofrusticboors，wassoontobecomethedelightof
princes，thethemeofalltonguesandages，thedictatortothe
humanmind，andwastoconferimmortalityonhisoppressorbya
caricatureandalampoon！
Iwasnowinvitedbythebutlertowalkintothegarden，andI
feltinclinedtovisittheorchardandarborwherethejusticetreated
SirJohnFalstaffandCousinSilence\"toalastyear’spippinofhis
owngrafting，withadishofcaraways；\"butIhadalreadyspentso
muchofthedayinmyramblingsthatIwasobligedtogiveupany
furtherinvestigations。WhenabouttotakemyleaveIwasgratifiedby
thecivilentreatiesofthehousekeeperandbutler，thatIwould
takesomerefreshment：aninstanceofgoodoldhospitalitywhich，I
grievetosay，wecastle—huntersseldommeetwithinmoderndays。I
makenodoubtitisavirtuewhichthepresentrepresentativeofthe
Lucysinheritsfromhisancestors；forShakspeare，eveninhis
caricature，makesJusticeShallowimportunateinthisrespect，as
witnesshispressinginstancestoFalstaff。
\"Bycockandpye，sir，youshallnotawayto—night***Iwill
notexcuseyou；youshallnotbeexcused；excusesshallnotbe
admitted；thereisnoexcuseshallserve；youshallnotbeexcused**
*Somepigeons，Davy；acoupleofshort—leggedhens；ajointof
mutton；andanyprettylittletinykickshaws，tellWilliamCook。\"
Inowbadeareluctantfarewelltotheoldhall。Mymindhad
becomesocompletelypossessedbytheimaginaryscenesand
charactersconnectedwithit，thatIseemedtobeactuallyliving
amongthem。Everythingbroughtthemasitwerebeforemyeyes；andas
thedoorofthedining—roomopened，Ialmostexpectedtohearthe
feeblevoiceofMasterSilencequaveringforthhisfavoriteditty：
\"’Tismerryinhall，whenbeardswagall，
Andwelcomemerryshrove—tide！\"
Onreturningtomyinn，Icouldnotbutreflectonthesingulargift
ofthepoet；tobeablethustospreadthemagicofhismindover
theveryfaceofnature；togivetothingsandplacesacharmand
characternottheirown，andtoturnthis\"working—dayworld\"intoa
perfectfairyland。Heisindeedthetrueenchanter，whosespell
operates，notuponthesenses，butupontheimaginationandtheheart。
UnderthewizardinfluenceofShakspeareIhadbeenwalkingalldayin
acompletedelusion。Ihadsurveyedthelandscapethroughtheprismof
poetry，whichtingedeveryobjectwiththehuesoftherainbow。I
hadbeensurroundedwithfanciedbeings；withmereairynothings，
conjuredupbypoeticpower；yetwhich，tome，hadallthecharmof
reality。IhadheardJacquessoliloquizebeneathhisoak：hadbeheld
thefairRosalindandhercompanionadventuringthroughthewoodlands；
and，aboveall，hadbeenoncemorepresentinspiritwithfatJack
Falstaffandhiscontemporaries，fromtheaugustJusticeShallow，down
tothegentleMasterSlenderandthesweetAnnePage。Tenthousand
honorsandblessingsonthebardwhohasthusgildedthedull
realitiesoflifewithinnocentillusions；whohasspreadexquisite
andunboughtpleasuresinmychequeredpath；andbeguiledmyspiritin
manyalonelyhour，withallthecordialandcheerfulsympathiesof
sociallife！