"
"We may improve it," said the knight, "but first let us hear more."
Then did William Shakspeare resume Dr. Glaston's discourse.
"'Ethelbert! I think thou walkest but little; otherwise I should
take thee with me, some fine fresh morning, as far as unto the first
hamlet on the Cherwell. There lies young Wellerby, who, the year
before, was wont to pass many hours of the day poetising amid the
ruins of Godstow nunnery. It is said that he bore a fondness toward
a young maiden in that place, formerly a village, now containing but
two old farm-houses. In my memory there were still extant several
dormitories. Some love-sick girl had recollected an ancient name,
and had engraven on a stone with a garden-nail, which lay in rust
near it, -
"POORE ROSAMUND."
I entered these precincts, and beheld a youth of manly form and
countenance, washing and wiping a stone with a handful of wet grass;
and on my going up to him, and asking what he had found, he shewed
it to me. The next time I saw him was near the banks of the
Cherwell. He had tried, it appears, to forget or overcome his
foolish passion, and had applied his whole mind unto study. He was
foiled by his competitor; and now he sought consolation in poetry.
Pages:
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152