362
NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. iv. NOV. t, mi.
The statue, which is described as "a
capital likeness," was the work of John
Bell. (See 8 S. vii. 333.)
- Dorchester, Dorset. Beside the south
porch of the church of St. Peter is a bronze statue of William Barnes, " the laureate of Dorset." It was designed by E. Roscoe Mullins, and unveiled by the Bishop of Salisbury 4 February, 1889. The parson- poet is represented standing erect, bare- headed, clad in long loose coat and knee- breeches. His hands are crossed in front, and the right hand loosely grasps a manu- script. The pedestal is thus inscribed :
Rev. William Barnes
1801-1886.
Zoo now I hope his kindly feace Is gone to yind a better pleace : But still wi' vo'k a-left behind, He'll always be a-kept in mind.
The above lines are taken from Barnes's ' Rural Poems in the Dorset Dialect.'
Stratford-on-Avon. To commemorate the jubilee of Queen Victoria Mr. G. W. Childs of Philadelphia presented a Shakespeare fountain and clock-tower to the town. It stands in Rother Street, and was unveiled by Sir Henry Irving on 17 October, 1887. The structure is 50 feet high, the lower part being of Peterhead granite, and the upper part of Bolton gray-stone. Above the four dials of the clock is a spire terminating with a gilded vane and flanked by four turrets. At the angles below are displayed shields containing the arms of Great Britain and the American stars and stripes. It is thus inscribed :
(South side : over entrance :)
The gift of an American Citizen, George W. Childs of Philadelphia,
to the town of Shakespeare, in the Jubilee Year of Queen Victoria.
(North side : over fountain :)
Honest water Which ne'er left man i' the mire.
' Timon of Athens,' Act. I. sc. ii. (West side :)
In her days every man shall eat in safety, Under his own vine, what he plants ; and sing The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours : God shall be truly known ; and those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honour, And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
' Henry VIII.,' Act. V. sc. iv. (East side :)
Ten thousand honours and blessings on the bard who has thus gilded the dull realities of life with innocent illusions. Washington Irving's
- Stratford-on-Avon.'
In the garden on the south side of the Memorial Theatre stands the group of
bronze statuary presented to the town in
1888 by the sculptor, Lord Ronald Suther-
land Gower. The five figures were modelled
by Lord Ronald in Paris, the work taking
the greater part of twelve years to accom-
plish. They consist of Shakespeare and
four of his principal characters Lady
Macbeth (Tragedy), Hamlet (Philosophy)^
Prince Henry (History), and Sir John
Falstaff (Comedy).
The figure of Shakespeare crowns the- design, and is represented seated, bare- headed and leaning forward. The right hand grasps a quill pen, and the left arm is thrown negligently over the back of a chair, the hand grasping a manuscript. The four figures stand round the circular pedestal, and above them are inscribed the following characteristic quotations : (North side : ) Lady Macbeth. Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more.
' Macbeth,' Act V. sc. vii. (South side : ) Prince Henry. Consideration, like an angel, came, And whipt the offending Adam out of him.
' Henry V.,' Act I. sc. 1. (East side:) Hamlet.
Good night, sweet Prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
' Hamlet,' Act V. sc. ii, (West side:) Falstaff.
I am not only witty in myself, But the cause that wit is in other men.
' 2 Henry IV.,' Act I. sc. ii. Below these are inscribed : (North side :) Ronald Gower
to
S tratf ord-up on- Av on.
(South side : ) This monument was unveiled on the 10th Oct., 1888, by Lady Hodgson, wife of Sir Arthur Hodgson, K.C.M.G., in the fifth year of his mayoralty.
In New Place Garden is the group in relief formerly on the Boy dell Gallery, Pall Mall. It depicts Shakespeare seated on a mound between the Dramatic Muse (left) and the Genius of Painting (right). The former grasps a lyre, and with her left hand presents a wreath to the poet ; the latter holds a palette and brushes, and with her right hand draws attention to the central figure. Beneath are Hamlet's lines (Act I. sc. ii.) :
He was a man ; take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. On the plinth is inscribed :
This alto-relievo | representing Shakespeare seated between the Dramatic Muse and the Genius of Painting | (formerly in the front of the Shake- speare Gallery, Pall Mall, London) | was presented to this Town by | Charles Holte Bracebridge,. Esq. | Atherstone Hall | 1871.
