These Houses Impressed Me Strongly With The Idea
Of Patriarchal Simplicity And Content.
We went to see Shakespeare's own house, which, of all the houses at
Stratford I think is now the worst, and one that made the least
appearance.
Yet, who would not be proud to be the owner of it?
There now however lived in it only two old people, who show it to
strangers for a trifle, and what little they earn thus is their
chief income.
Shakespeare's chair, in which he used to sit before the door, was so
cut to pieces that it hardly looked like a chair; for every one that
travels through Stratford cuts off a chip as a remembrance, which he
carefully preserves, and deems a precious relic, I also cut myself a
piece of it, but reverencing Shakespeare as I do, I am almost
ashamed to own to you it was so small that I have lost it, and
therefore you will not see it on my return.
As we travelled, I observed every spot with attention, fancying to
myself that such or such a spot might be the place where such a
genius as Shakespeare's first dawned, and received those first
impressions from surrounding nature which are so strongly marked in
all his works. The first impressions of childhood, I knew, were
strong and permanent; of course I made sure of seeing here some
images at least of the wonderful conceptions of this wonderful man.
But my imagination misled me, and I was disappointed; for I saw
nothing in the country thereabouts at all striking, or in any
respect particularly beautiful.
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