114 EXCURSIONS ROUND LONDON. 



zabeth ; to whom he then presented a sonnet 

 in praise of her favourite, the Earl of Essex. 

 They next erfterecl the house of their fa- 

 vorite poet, which their father informed 

 them, was more humble and circumscribed 

 during his life-time ; but that veneration for 

 his memory had since enlarged its dimen- 

 sions. He pointed out to them the centre 

 building, which was the residence of this 

 Incomparable man, the two wings having 

 since been added, and the gardens conside- 

 rably enlarged, by Sir William Stanhope, 

 who purchased it after his death. Over an 

 arched way, leading to the new gardens, is 

 a bust of Pope, in white marble, under 

 which are these lines by Earl Nugent : 



The humble roof, the garden's scanty line, 



111 suit the genius of a bard divine; 



But fancy now displays a fairer scope, 



And Stanhope's phins unfold the soul of Pope. 



Lord Mendip, who married the daughter 

 pf Sir William Stanhope, stuccoed the front 



of the house, and adorned it in an elegant 



<. . >. .<..., ... v 



Style. 



