A MEMORY FROM STRATFORD-ON-AVON. 193 



entirely devoted to the great man, whose many gems were constantly rising 

 in our mind, and shedding such light, as made us acknowledge a score of 

 times, how multifarious was his mind — how pure his thought — how vast his 

 knowledge — and how rich his power of utterance. 



We journeyed home, but our lovely day closed with a violent rain, for 

 nine miles, (leaving Henley-in-Arden,) we had a heavy thunderstorm; but 

 a most magnificent rainbow gladdened the scene, and taught us the old 

 welcome lesson of Hope. Shakspere has truthfully expressed the character 

 of a man not affected by sweet sounds; and I think we may justly conclude 

 from his writings, that his own soul was equally gladdened by the poetry 

 of earth, and its many illuminated illustrations. 



He must have been one of those happy people, whose hearts, attuned to 

 the utterance of Nature, find a superior charm therein, to that engendered 

 by the world. His poor Ophelia made "garlands of Crow flowers, nettles, 

 daisies, and long pm*ples." She also gives "fennel and columbines : there '■ rue 

 for you, and some for me; we may call it herb o' grace on Sundays: you may 

 bear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy, I would give you some 

 violets, but they withered all when my father died." In his sonnets are 

 many expressions testifying to the geniality of his heart, and its apprecia- 

 tion of the dear things of nature: as ''the sweet smell of different flowers," 

 — "lilies white," — the "deep vermilion of the rose," — and the great Truth 

 enunciated, "sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy." His eyes 

 had glistened at the rapid flight of the "painted butterflies," and marked 

 the "russet-pated choughs rising and cawing at the gun's report." 



The "scritching owl" had doubtless aroused in his bosom wondrous 

 thoughts of the many marvels and superstitions so prevalent; and the fol- 

 lowing little gem from the "Midsummer Night's Dream" is confirmatory of 

 the belief, that Shakspeare was not altogether regardless of the thousand 

 sources of intense interest and gratification found in Nature's wide domains. 



"The ouzel cock, so black of hue, 



"With orange tawny bill; 

 The throstle, with his note so true, 



The wren with little quill; 

 The finch, the sparrow, and the lark, 



The plain-song cuckoo grey, 

 "Whose note full many a man doth mark, 



And dares not answer nay." 



Pleasant are my memories of Shakspere and Stratford! 

 The Elms, Moseley Road, Birmingham, May 2nd., 1857. 



