Shakespeare and Architecture 



little was known beyond their name. This comes 

 out still stronger if we compare him with the two 

 great English writers with whom he is so often 

 compared Bacon and Milton. To his great 

 contemporary Bacon stately buildings and fine 

 architecture were a great delight; according to 

 him the study of them was a necessary part in 

 the education of every gentleman, and he has left 

 us the great essay On Building, an essay which 

 not only shows his practical knowledge in joining 

 stateliness and beauty with perfect comfort, but 

 also shows how the greatest intellect can deal 

 with what many would call only petty details. 

 Milton's case is still more striking. Puritan 

 though he was, fine and magnificent buildings 

 appealed strongly to his poetic taste. The build- 

 ings in heaven are all after the patterns of the 

 grandest buildings on earth, and he takes every 

 opportunity to show his knowledge and admira- 

 tion of fine architecture ; and it is a little curious 

 in connection with Shakespeare's omission of all 

 notice of architecture, that Milton's sonnet upon 

 him is entirely made up of building allusions, 

 " the labour of an age in piled stones," " a star- 

 pointing pyramid " and " marble sepulchre." And 

 so it is in Milton and not in Shakespeare that 

 we learn to love the beauties of " the studious 

 cloyster pale," "the high embowed roof 



With antick pillars massy proof, 

 And storied windows richly dight, 

 Casting a dim, religious light " 



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