The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-17


peare begged to be allowed TO take
them to Long Lexington. and was so al
lowed: and that this is a true picture
of his faring tEither:
The consequence vas, in short that
before daylight on the Saturday morn
ing young William Shakespeare made his
way on good horse out OF StratfoTd,
and took the road to Long lexington As
he passed along the deep Warwickshire
hedges, and under the boughs of many
a great oak, the unspeakabIe enchant-
ment of the early summer morning arose
out of the grass and descended from the
trees: vague forms of wood-cTeatures
seemed 10 sail over to him out of the
forest upon the pungent Natures and
doors Of green leaves and flowers; forms
which afterward became Peasblossom
and Mustard seed. and that pretty com
pany: a web. spun by an early summer
spider across q narrow lane. foated into
his face, whereupon he fancied it the
saiutation Of some wood-elf, and cried
out. Good morning Cobweb Presently
the rover and the mystery of the deep
green woods came over his soul; he
burst into tears of unspeakabIe rapture.
he sang at the top of mis- voice. while
a great dome Of silver built itself in the
sky before the rising sun; the birds
lifted up their voices, the little brooks
rippIe1 across the road, the 1sborers
came cut into the fields. the strolling
tinker. the great wagon. passed him IN
noticed the farm, the thorp, the coun-
try-seat foated b. him. and so he Jared
through the morning in dream Of vague
delight until midday when the hot sun
beating on mis- head suddenly admonish-
ed him TO look about, He pulled him
self together. and discovered during that
operation that he had an amazing sppe-
lite. having eaten nothing since his
early supper the night before. Upon
asking the distance 10 Long lexington,
he was told Il was but a short mile; 50,
having three hours 10 spare, he de-
termined TO avail himself OF piece Of
venison pastry which Mistress Shakes
peare had stuffed into his pouch. before
he left home. for his breakfast.
Observing that brook flowed across
the way, Just ahead. ne rode up to it.
Z @,
and threaded his way between the tree
/ trunks until he found a spot, some half
mile from the highway. where the brook
made round and placid pool, embow-
cred in cool foliage. Here he dismount-
ed. fastened his horse to swinging
/ bough which would allow him to nibble
+ the grass-'for I viii eat with thee.
( Flight he said to the horse pattfng his
neck. though ! cared not 10 MUNICH by
/ the roadside with Jack and Jnr-and
sat down on the bank Here. with IL
! tie laugh OF luxury. he drew of his CIR
] die and 1oosened his doublet. He had
caused his mother, some time previously
TO sew him u? sort of Ieathern pouch
Of size sufficient 10 hold two OF three
/ books which he owned. and which he
was accustomed to carry VITA him In his
long and lonesome excursions about the
( country. As he opened the poueh he per
Ceived that his good mother, in her hur-
~. had stuffed the pastry in with the
I books, and so he took all out together
He had recently made a great acquisl-
ton; this was a COPY OF TcttePs Mis-
cellany Of Uncertain Authors (the first
printed book OF modern poetry: and he
now eagerly embraced the chance to
read a poem or two while he was chew
I ing his pastry So he spread the book
4 open before him and fell to. feeding bod
and soul at the same time. Presently he
came 10 that perfect parting song OF
! WAITS. And Wilt Thou Leave Ne
Thus. which first appeared in this
book Now Shakespeare. though but
eleven years old. was completely gone iii
love. I DO not know why I should say
though but eleven years old: the man
knows not love who has not loved at
eleven. Love at eleven Is like dewdror
On the end OF a grassblade before the
sun is up. questioning neither its source
nor its fate. limDid. brilliant. round
/ perfect OF course. the lady was older
/ than himself being Mistress Anne Hath
away, whom he had recently seen and
fallen a victim TO- Now the tender words
/ OF the poem seemed to have been written
/ for him; he had rushed our OF Stratford
without chance 70 bid an eternal fare
well TO the goddess over at Shottery -
/ The reader may have some doubts as
! TO the likelihood Of extreme sensfbility