64 



The Falcon Tavern was next visited, to inspect the old oak wainscotting sup- 

 pKJsed to have been taken from the house at New Place. The Shakespeare 

 Memorial Theatre, commenced in 1877, both its library — in anticipation — and 

 its picture gallery were next inspected. Then a building of his own time, the 

 Guild Chapel, where Shakespeare is thought to have gone to school during the 

 repairs of the school house. This owes its origin to the Cloptons, who built New 

 Place in the time of Henry VII. The old Cuild Hall adjoins, in which Shakes- 

 peare is said to have seen his first play, and the school in which he acquired his 

 "little Latin and less Greek," is over head. This, too, was visited afterwards, 

 somewhat to the discomfiture of the master, though very gratifying to the boys 

 then at work there. 



The Town Hall, with a statue of Shakespeare, was the next object to be 

 seen. The justices were sitting, and the inspection had to be made in decorous 

 silence. Above the hall is the assembly-room where Garrick was entertained at 

 the great Jubilee, and his portrait, by Gainsborough, is at one end of the room, 

 and that of Shakespeare, by Wilson, on the other. The other portr.aits are those 

 of Queen Anne and the Duke of Dorset, the hereditary High Sheriff of the borough. 



By this time the visitors were well prepared for the luncheon dinner which 



had been provided for them at "mine hostelry," "The Shakespeare"; and so well 



had the company been marshalled, that all were seated at the table five minutes 



before the time appointed. Grace having been said by the Rev. David Price, 



the President arose immediately, and with energetic voice declaimed from King 



Richard III.— 



" Let those not live to taste this land's increase. 

 That would with treason wound this fair land's peace." 



Act v., Sc. 4. 



The room was crowded, and the repast was merry, for though all did well, those 



did best who looked a little after themselves, and there seemed small need for the 



poet's aspiration — 



" Now good digestion wait on appetite 

 And health on both." 



Macbeth, Act III., Sc. 4. 



Grace had no sooner been said, than the President again, fully equal to the 



occasion, rose to propose the one toast allowed to the Club, which he did by a 



clever adaptation of the prophetic words of Cranmer on the young Queen 



Elizabeth :— 



" 'Tis of our Queen I speak. The words I utter 

 Let none think flattery, for they'll find them truth. 

 A pattern to all princes living with her. 

 And all that shall succeed. All princely graces 

 With all the virtues that attend the good, 

 Shall still be doubled in her. ***** 

 She shall be lov'd and fear'd. Her own shall bless her, 

 Her foes shake like a field of beaten com, 

 And hang their heads with sorrow. Good grows with her 

 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 ; 

 She shall be to the happiness of England 

 An aged princess ; many days shall see her. 

 And yet no day without a deed to crown it." 



King Henry VIII., Act V., Sc. 4. 



