Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-04-15
MI c Ell N Y.
] ESS Y.
TALE or OLD LONDON BRIDGE.

Gone are the PALACES and gardens which.
from Whitelriars TO Westminster. adorn-
ed its banks; the siN.oared canopird barge
bas given way to the smoky steambOa, the
wateFman's occupation, by the erection Of
so many bridges, like othello $, A" /, gone"
and the spirit Of romance has fai,ly vanish
ed from the now impure, gaseous and " tor
tured stream" m word. everything has
succumbed TO tIe march Of triumphant
utility.
Things were not always 30. A. still. on
the waters tha, wash the marble palace Of
'ca.born Venice, music nightly sounds, and
love breathe, his sigh, 80. in the good old
times that shall never come again. did the
gallant. gliding over the unpolluted stream,
won his love. The high and the noble did
no, consider It drr'sa,ory to their dignity
To touch the guitar; the woman's silver
voice was heard, making yet more smooth
tho unveIcd and transparent bosom OF the
gentle rather Thames"
The moon shed dpod Of light upon the
.inglo bridge. which spanning the noble
river, ,horc on It's granite 'hoaliersa hundred
houses long shadow'werc cast eastward ;
the tide rushing through the arches. created
slumbcrous sound; the Globe on the Bank.
side, where Shakspearo personated his owr
immortal creations. bad closed IL, doors.
when an individual, who had lately stood
within the walls Of that temple Of Thes
pi.. proceeded ,n the nearest stairs. and
sprinsinc into his whcrry, rowed lei'urcly
out into the stream.
The gallant, whom We arc about to de-
scribe. though on terms Of familiar srectin;
with E,.cI. Raleigh. and the choicS wits
of the day. dld not belong q the ari'pcr,ic
cla,.. yet on his person and bearing, ma.
turcs nobility wa. stamped that lofty fore
head .Iake OF intellectual superiority the
eve though subdued. and somewhat down.
cast, through the minds detection, rad tha,
searching glance which can read men {.
souls the brows were drawn from thci7
natural arch almost 10 straight lines, and
gave to his phy'icgnomy an expression OF
.ternness, which, however, was redeemed
hy the hnmor that lnrked a-ound the ihin-
Tipped. handsome mouth the beard was
short and peaked a conical hat with sim
gle feather. adorned hi. head his doubls'
wa, slasheI. and of the finest brotdclo1,h ;
hi- ruill,. were of the rich Fland-r. laec
and the hilt Of his straight swori-i pre-
.,n, from the queen-was set with ruhie'
And this wa. the derr.sials.r Of S,ratford
Ayon-,hi- WIS Shak'pcarc.
The great drlmatist was now in the sum
mcr Of hi. days. and II 80 may be allowed
the metaphor. the aloe Of his renown had
begun to put forth those leaves, tho beauty
and ire,hne.s of which have endured Tot
three centuries. Genius, as regards rs
alteration OF the sex. i. sometimes content
10 feed on drcam. Of ideal hsauiy. But al
thi, period of his lite, the Bard OF Avon,
il would seem. was not satisfied with wor'
Shipping phaa.y. Petrarch and his platon'
ie- afforded nothing suited % his tcinpera'
ment, and he yielded to tho PASSIONS that
will enthral ordinary men. Love for an
object breathing. living, had kihdIed rs
FIRE in his heart. Cold seemed the crca'
sure of hi, plastic fancy to this lovely inear'
nation OF his poetic dreaminss-this sweet
palpablc shrine Of the immortal spirit and
10 pour forth h, love VOWS and io press the
lily hand Of hl' sweet Jes'y, did Shak'pcar'
on the night in question, urge his wherry
down the Thames.
Jc..y wa. tie daughter Of the d'spi'ed
people who rcs s,rdei Abraham as their
prc,enitur. Her father was an usgrer and
l-wellrr, and hung out his sign "n the Old
London bridge. 1t WITS jus, above the third
arch i.om the city side, ere the Dutchman
Norris had erected his water works. that
old Manasseh dwelt. There were but two
things in the world dear to him-his money
and his daughter. From the extreme low
illness. Jessy had obtained the soubriquet OF
the Z" Beauty Of London Bridge Many
of the illuslrious Of her tribe had sought
her hand in marriage hut Jessy was deal
to each overture. Several Christians, alsu
suffered t. lay their titles and riches at her
feet; but here Manasseh ansrily interposed'
since from principle, as well as inclination
he bitterly lcathed the followers Of one
whom his nation s,igmatizes as false. Yes,
the jew would have acted. II possible, -
s,erner part than virsinins, he would
have strangled his only and beloved daugh-
ter, ere he had seen her polluted by un'
ion with a christian.
Shakspearc's winery glided on. aad in
Few minutes. having entered the deep shad'
ow Of the arch, he landed on the wide pro-
jeclins startling Jessy'. sleeping apart
mlnt was far above; but the eitl. had the
key of lower chamber which opened upon
q small balcony, and thence let herself
down to the enamored poet.
Shakespeare resigned his sculls to his
Young attendant, who knew his duty too