sician settled in Stratford, whom she survived

fourteen years.

*

The causes which led to the marked distinction, made in Shakspeare's will, between his two surviving children, are buried in oblivion. The fact alone remains, that while Judith is only remembered by legacies to the amount of three hundred pounds, Susanna is invested with the entire remainder of her father's ample property, excepting a few legacies. His capital dwellinghouse in Stratford, called New Place; two houses in Henley Street; various lands and tenements in, and in the neighbourhood of, Stratford; and his house in Blackfriars; are all specifically given to her. The residue of his estate, after the discharge of his funeral and testamentary expences, is devised to her and her husband, who are likewise nominated the executors of the will.

This favorite daughter of Shakspeare died in July, 1649, aged sixty-six, and her tomb-stone recorded her wit, her piety, and her humanity. † "Witty above her sexe, but that's not all, Wise to salvation, was good mistress Hall. Something of Shakspeare was in that, but this Wholly of him with whom she's now in blisse.

• Strat. Regist.

+ Strat. Regist. The verses are not now remaining on the stone, but have been preserved by Dugdale.

Then, passenger, hast ne'er a teare,
To weepe with her that wept with all :
That wept, yet set herselfe to chere
Them up with comforts cordiall?

Her love shall live, her mercy spread,
When thou hast ne'er a teare to shed."

It is not to be presumed that the art of writing was among the accomplishments of this lady, as the mark of her sister Judith appears to a deed still extant, accompanied by the explanatory appendage of "Signum Judith Shakspeare.” *

The only child of Dr. and Mrs. Hall was a daughter named Elizabeth. At the time of her grandfather's death, she was eight years of age. His remembrances of her in his will are, a contingent interest in a hundred pounds bequeathed to his daughter Judith and her heirs, and "all his plate t," with the exception of the broad silver and gilt bowl given to her aunt Judith.

Elizabeth Hall married a Mr. Thomas Nash. He died in April, 1647; and his widow, after the expiration of two years, was united to Sir John Barnard, of Abington, Northamptonshire, where

* Wheeler's Guide to Stratford.

Shakspeare bequeathed his plate twice: in the last item of the will, which constitutes Dr. and Mrs. Hall residuary legatees, he gives "all the rest of his goods, chattels, leases, piate, jewels, &c."

she was buried in 1669-70. She left no children, and thus the family of Shakspeare became extinct.

66

66

Worthy," "gentle," and " beloved," are the epithets uniformly connected with the contemporary mention of Shakspeare's name. He is also described as a man of a ready, smooth, and pleasant wit. * Many were the wit-combates," says Fuller, "between Shakspeare and Ben Jonson. I behold them like a Spanish great galleon, and an English man of war. Master Jonson, like the former, was built far higher in learning, solid, but slow in his performances; Shakspeare, like the latter, lesser in bulk, but lighter in sailing, could turn with all tides, tack about, and take advantage of all winds by the quickness of his wit and invention." This farfetched simile of the quaint biographer is no very happy illustration of conversational powers rich in variety, and astonishing in versatility. A few anecdotes have been transmitted as specimens of Shakspeare's talent at repartee, but they are really unworthy of transcription, and must be deemed most unfortunate specimens of the colloquial brilliancy of a man who was not the meanest member of a club of which Jon

son, Beaumont, Fletcher, Selden, Cotton, Carew, Martin, and Donne were members, and whose meetings furnished matter for retrospective delight in so competent a judge as Beaumont.

"What things have we seen

Done at the Mermaid! heard words that have been
So nimble, and so full of subtle flame,

As if that every one from whom they came
Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest.” *

The best specimen of Shakspeare's extemporary wit, is his jocular epitaph on Mr. John Combe, who had amassed great wealth by the practice of usury. In the gaiety of conversation, Combe told the poet that he fancied he intended to furnish his epitaph; and since whatever might be said of him after he was dead must be unknown to him, he requested that it might be written forthwith: Shakspeare immediately gave him the following verses:

"Ten in the hundred lies here ingrav'd;

'Tis a hundred to ten his soul is not sav'd:

If any man ask, Who lies in this tomb,

Oh! oh! quoth the devil, 'tis my John-a-Combe." +

It is asserted of Shakspeare, that he was a handsome, well-shaped man‡; but as it is not

* Beaumont's Letter to Jonson.

+ Rowe and Aubrey.

† Aubrey.

known that any authentic likeness of him exists, fancy is left at liberty to imagine the peculiar conformation of his features. Pictures, indeed, are not wanting whose claims to authenticity have been confidently asserted; but their merits so generally fade before the test of examination, that the pretensions of few are worthy of consideration.

If the positive testimony of a contemporary, and an associate, could authenticate a portrait, the verses of Ben Jonson on the engraving by Droeshout, attached to the first folio edition of Shakspeare's works, its exact resemblance to the immortal dramatist ought to be considered as established.

"This figure that thou here seest put,
It was for gentle Shakspeare cut;
Wherein the graver had a strife
With nature, to out-do the life.

O, could he but have drawn his wit
As well in brass, as he hath hit

His face, the print would then surpass
All that was ever writ in brass;
But since he cannot, reader, look
Not on his picture, but his book."

Without the reader has had the misfortune to behold this much eulogised specimen of the graphic art, he will be surprised to learn, that the plate is not only at variance with the tradition