( 153 )

gaged in stealing deer, and thereby to have
drawn upon himself a prosecution from the
then owner, Sir Thomas Lucy.

IF this story is founded in truth, as
well as that the Knight's rigorous con-
duct subsequent to this supposed outrage
really proved the cause of our Shakespeare's
quitting this his native retirement to visit
the capital, it will afford us the means
of contemplating, at least in one instance,
with some degree of complacency, even the
imperious dominion of our feudal supe-
riors, the tyranny of magistracy, and the
harsh enforcement of the remnants of our
forest laws; since in their consequences
they unquestionably called into action the
energies of that sublime genius, and of
those rare and matchless endowments which
had otherwife perhaps been lost in the shade
of retirement, and have

" Wafted their sweetness on the default air."

U

WITHIN

( 153 )

gaged in fealing deer, and thereby to have
drawn upon himself a prosecution from the
then owner, Sir Thomas Lucy.

IF this story is founded in truth, as
well as that the Knight's rigorous con-
duct subsequent to this supposed outrage
really proved the cause of our Shakespeare's
quitting this his native retirement to visit
the capital, it will afford us the means
of contemplating, at least in one instance,
with some degree of complacency, even the
imperious dominion of our feudal supe-
risors, the tyranny of magistracy, and the
harsh enforcement of the remnants of our
forest laws; since in their consequences
they unquestionably called into action the
energies of that sublime genius, and of
those rare and matchless endowments which
had otherwise perhaps been lost in the shade
of retirement, and have

" Wafted their sweetneſs on the defart air."

U

WITHIN

Yale Center for British Art, 2012

( 154 )

WITHIN this park is now standing, on a
spot called Daisy Hill, a farm house, which
was antiently the keeper's lodge. To this
lodge it is reported our Shakespeare was con-
veyed, and there confined at the time of the
charge, which is supposed to have been
brought against him. This supposition, how
flight soever the foundation of it may be, I yet
thought sufficient to give an interest to the
spot in which it is prefumed to have passed,
and under that idea I have subjoined a sketch
of the present building.

THE