the olden times, ebullitions of pleasure survive in the genuine impulse of nature and carry enjoyment forward to the perfection and harmony of existence. Though country people take the lead in commemorating Easter, a Goddess of the Saxons, Londoners are not far behind them, and Lady Day' is remembered by more persons than Landlords of houses. The cry of Salt Fish is indicative of the arrival for keeping Easter in a customary way, and the criers are too modest to proclaim their cod, all alive!' The holidays are contemplated by school-boys, apprentices and their employers. Noblemen, prelates, senators, judges, attorneys and jockies, take a relaxing tour into the country, and to their seats. The universal proclamation of Hot Cross Buns,' (some of which are baked days before to meet the demand) whet the appetite and the consumption is immense. Many bakers and pastrycooks exhibit them a day earlier than Good Friday, and thereby tempt youngfolks by the crosses they bear, to enjoy the antepast. The sons of Erin, in particular, after the morning mass of this day, meet in the Copenhagen fields for the purpose of wrestling There are not less than from five to six thousand. The wrestling is continued with vigour till dark, and they separate in peace. On the Sunday following, by the bustle of tailors at an early hour, new clothes is displayed in all parts of town. Posies are bunched at the corners of streets, and circulated in button holes, bosoms and flower pots. Houses of public resort are white washed and painted, and the habitations of the genteel adorned with delicate hyacinths and bulbous roots. Falling rains damp the ardour of out going people. Bells ring and parish officers going out and coming in, contemplate good dinners and good wines.

The cleaning up and clearing out system is pleasing to the eye, and beneficial to the taste. New and attractive amusements are announced for the week. The struggles for the gratis wedding at Shoreditch and other Churches, are visible by the flutter of white ribbands, red cheeks and half-shamed motions through the streets, submitted to the quizzical remarks of observant pedestrians. That the Epping Hunt is to be glorious, appears by the laden stages, the foot and horse armed cap-a-pie, the influx of provisions in the hungry quarter, and the exports of game from the various markets by the waggon. Kilburn on the one side, brings in varieties of the mountebank class, and his late Royal Highness the Duke of York laying in state. St. John's Wood, exhibits Crook, the Stenomathic Merry An

drew, in the Lecture Rooms. Tim Bobbin shews forth his monkey and dancing dogs. The butchers of Whitechapel, the sailors in Wapping, and the cads of St. James's decide a walking, boxing and rowing match. Greenwich, by land and water, is peopled with holiday folks and the pensioners fall in with old and new acquaintance. The hill is a spot of attraction, but the sharp air and showery clouds, deter many from exercising their wonted rural sports. The stages at Charing Cross are alert to convey company going down.' Light and heavy vehicles are in gear at the Elephant and Castle. The old inharmonious fiddler scrapes by the hour under the wall at the Fishmonger's alms-houses. Parties go out in a glass-coach and four to their college friends at Salt Hill. Country Cousins are arrived, and stare at the Wonders of Exeter Change, the Ramas, Bazaars, Bridges, Churches, Docks, Inns of Court, Facades, Picture Galleries, Whispering Gallery, Monument, St. Dunstan's Clock strikers, Gog and Magog, and, in short, all the sights, spectacles and naumachias, to be seen, felt and understood. The Easter Ball is crowded, theatres are filled, bands playing in tea gardens, and parties shuffling over card tables.

When trade has been enlivened by an impetus to the circulating medium, and when that medium has exchanged owners, then, and not till then, merchants return to change, Stockbrokers to the Rotunda, Directors to the India House, Clerks to the Bank, Carpenters to the Bench, Brick-makers to the clay, and most of the lower classes, to work. Thus the festive days of Easter lapse into the past, new transitions occupy the present attention, and eyes look forward to a succession of novelties in the world of fashion, variety and mutability.

P.

[For the Easter Festivals of the Mexicans, see No. 11 of the 'OLIO."]

DESPAIR.

(For the Olio.)

I sat—and as I mused, methought I saw
A Phantom's frightful form glide on before me,
Was like deformity in human shape,
But hideous past expression. Her redden'd
eyes
Burnt in their sockets with a glare of anguish,

As tho' hells hottest flame was laid beneath
To blaze incessantly :-Upon her forehead
Agony had stamp'd his mark in rueful wrinkles,
Which Time himself was never to erase;
And, as she breath'd, it seem'd the vernal air.
Which her broad nostrils quaff'd in eagerness,

Was altered from the clear refreshing breeze, Soon as it reached her lungs; for, from her mouth

It came in clouds of fætid fume, which told
Some dire corruption reigned supreme within.
She look'd around,-yet saw not! where the
glance,

Horridly vacant! of her eyeballs fell;
There, quick, all beauty wasted, and anon
Changed into forms disgusting all variety,
Blighted before her gaze, was withered down
To loathsome sameness:-her dress was not

As earthly mourning; but never widow's weeds
Or parent's funeral cloak, had half the colouring
Of woe upon them, as was burnt in here:
A mantle full envelop'd her-like misery
Wrapp'd in misfortunes ;-from its ample
folds

One arm escaped, all leprous and unclean,
Frightful and vast, extending far and near;
And where its fingers touched, thence Hope

withdrew,

Affrighted at the sight: each fated mortal
That came within their grasp, became at once
Inoculated with the noisome malady,
Which, speedy in its progress through the
frame,

Made him at once the monster's prototype,
With difference only that he could not last
Or spread th' infectious touch.-hat horrors

rose

To watch the spectie's course! Murder and suicide

There grinn'd unutterably their approbation,
As victims round them fell. There the lover
In madness flung him down the craggy steep,
Pursued in death by jealousy :-the slave
Of wealth, baulk'd in his hopes of aggran-
dizement,

There plung'd the dagger in his hapless breast,
And left behind him all :-there poverty,
As her last shift, drank Lethe's potion
In poison down; and sorrow's suffering child,
Fell passion's victim, cruel falsehood's prey,
The wandering outcast from a parent's love,
Half drowned in griefs, fled the stern pitiless

world,

And scoop'd a watery grave :-the dupe of vice, Thwarted in some set project, wreak'd his wrath

On all around him, dealing death about
With fiend-like prodigality; he started once
To view the ruin he had madly made,
And, quite unable to upbear the thought,
Added his own foul carcase to the heap.-

And longer had I look'd; but fear forbade,
And hurried me away :-I left the scene,
And all its horrors; as a dream just past,
Too sad to dwell upon.-

R. JARMAN.

BLEEDING, VERSUS REGIMEN. 'Who will decide, when Doctors disagree.'

The first he blister'd, cupp'd, and bled me,
And to the border of the grave he led me;
Reduced to shade, my life was nearly lost,
And, I, left Esculapius to my cost.
Advised by weeping friends, I sought
A second doctor, more successful thought,
I told him what had past:-He shook his head;

"Twas murder to reduce me thus ; he said :"Bake your own bread and eat it,-drink your

beer,

'Then your complaint will disappear, ""Tis weakness makes and keeps you thus.

Let not

"The leech or lancet, draw another spot."
I paid my fee, departed ;-I complied
With generous living,-all my ailments died;
I live a monument to healing power,
And thank the second doctor to this hour.-P.

ON SHAKSPEARE.

"THERE is nothing new under the sun,' says an old writer, and many of our readers may imagine, we mean practically to illustrate this "wise saw," by selecting for a principal dish in the bill of fare, we have the pleasure of laying before the public, in this weeks Olio, a subject so hackneyed, old, and familiar as the biography of our immortal bard, Shakspeare, but notwithstanding all may have feasted on it before, many will attack it with renewed appetite, some devour it with relish, and no person of taste will despise it, and our wish is that all may thoroughly digest it. The anniversary of the poets death happening on the 23rd was a temptation not to be withstood, as it afforded an excellent opportunity for refreshing the recollections of our numerous friends, concerning the life and pursuits of so eminent a character. It is a curious fact, but so it is that the manners, customs, habits, anecdotes, and even personal appearance of men who have raised themselves to the pinnacle of fame, either by their writings or actions, have in all ages excited nearly as much interest as the learning, or bravery itself, for which they were celebrated; the greater the difficulty, also in attaining what we require, so proportionably is the curiosity raised, and the pleasure increased, and to prove that the labour and trouble which always accompany such researches, are not thrown away, and are worthy the undertaking, we need hardly point out that it has claimed the attention, occupied the time, and called forth the learning of most literary men of eminence, during one period or other of the lives, and as proof of this, it is well known that the talents and industry of Rowe, Pope, Johnson, Malone, Steevens, and Farmer have been most sedulously employed in illustrating the subject in question. John Shakspeare the father of our bard lived in the town of Stratford-uponAvon, and followed at different periods the various avocations of glover, butcher, and Woolstapler, and it is supposed, that in consequence of the latter trade having fallen into decay, he lost by it all the lit. tle wealth his former occupations had enabled him to amass, for the old writings and town records of Stafford, state him at one time to have been tolerably well off in the world, and mention the fact of his serving the office of High Baliff, in the year 1568, whereas other documents in the same place, and of later date, speak expressly of his poverty, and the trade of the town about this time falling into great disrepute, leaves no doubt as to the cause of it. His

family, as Rowe informs us, consisted of ten children, of whom nothing is recorded of any interest, save and except our great dramatist, whose genius was such as not only to elevate himself, but raise the memory of his family from obscurity. Edmund the youngest son was the only one who followed the steps of his brother, he played for some years at the Globe theatre, in Southwark, but never rose to any pitch of excellence, he died December 29, 1607, and was buried in St. Saviour's church yard, where the curious in such matters may still be shown the place of his interment.

William Shakspeare was born, 23rd April 1564, at Stratford upon Avon, and the house in which he drew his first breath, though dilapidated and altered, is still to be seen and is visited by numerous strangers, who are drawn to the spot, either by curiosity, or respect for the memory of one so great, and all ranks have equally felt the desire of seeing a place so celebrated. The walls of the room where the poet was born, are entirely penciled over with praises, verses, scraps, and sentences, a collection of which effusions, would, we think furnish an cdd volume of no very uninteresting description. As a sample, we here insert a copy of lines which are attributed to the pen of Lucien Buonaparte, written when he visited that memorable spot, and well shows that true genius is always universally felt and admired :

The eye of genius glistens to admire,

How memory hails the sound of Shakspeare's

lyre,

The young Shakspeare lived with his father during the early part of his life. Most writers assert, he was when young sent to a grammar-school in the town, but his father's poverty prevented his continuing there long; now there is no doubt as to his having been at this school, but it seems probable his father designed to give him a much better education, but was prevented on account of his misfortunes, and in consequence sent him to the above mentioned academy, which put him to no expense, for it was a chartered free school, where boys were educated gratuitously, their parents providing for their board and lodging. However all allow this was the only limited education,

he received, and whatever learning he afterwards acquired, was the result of his own unassisted application. Various are the conjectures and assertions respecting his employment after leaving school, it seems he followed for some time the craft of his father, but being disgusted with it, he became (according to Rowe) an attorney's clerk. From his infancy he had always been fond of dramatic representations, and is stated at a very early age to have assisted the itinerant performers when they played in the town of Stratford, which was not unfrequently the case. At the age of eighteen, he married, and the consummation of this union does not seem to have been very felicitous, for he did not lead an enviable life with his domestic partner, who was some years older than himself. His want of ease and comfort at home, soon induced him to seek it abroad, and he shortly became acquainted with a set of idle profligate fellows, in whose society his morals and manners were not likely to be improved. His wife within three years of their marriage, bore him a son and two daughters, the former died when young, the latter married, had families and their last lineal descendant, died in 1670, though some collateral branches of the family are still in being in Gloucestershire.

In the year 1585, he ceased entirely to live with his wife, and abandoned himself wholly to the pursuits of his companions. Deer-stealing was an offence they were frequently in the habit of committing; Shakspeare was on one of these predatory excursions, detected and severely punished, this galled his spirit, and he wrote some low but cutting verses on the author of his disgrace, who was so incensed at his impudence, that he would have carried his vengeance still farther, had not Shakspeare avoided it by flight Know. ing it would be impossible for him to return to his native town, he resolved to direct his steps towards London, -and there seek some employment. He arrived in this Metropolis in 1587, and his taste for the drama, combined with the circumstance of two of his townspeople, Burbage and Green, acting at the Globe, induced him to request some situation in that theatre, his application does not seem to have been very successful, for he only obtained the place of call-boy, or as some say of groom, for it was the fashion in those days to go to the play on horseback. However low his first introduction to the stage might be, he soon by his quickness and wit, gained favour with his employers, and was allowed to personate some of the more unimportant characters. Shakspeare remained stationary here for a

considerable time, but though not distinguished as an actor, he soon became noted for his literary attainments for he altered plays to suit his own company, revised old performances, and in short, soon became more a writer than a tragedian.

It was probably from the fact of his acting not pleasing the Public, that England may pride herself in having given birth to one of the greatest lumina ries that ever brightened the paths of man for the genius of Shakspeare could have followed any bent or direction, so as it had full scope to display itself, and if his dramatic powers had pleased his audience, his talents doubtless would have been powerfully concentrated in that particular pursuit, and the poet would never have blazoned forth as he has, the wonder of the world. It was about this time that he wrote his first play, and the entire success of it induced him to send forth at various periods those productions which for more than two centuries have been the delight and astonishment of mankind. His emoluments previous to his offering any composition of his own, were but scanty, but no sooner did the public find what a genius they had been neglecting, than profit, praise, and patronage flowed fast upon him, and he soon acquired some little wealth. In 1597, he purchased a freehold mansion in his native town, called New Place, and repaired and furnished it completely. It was a square house, with three gabled roofs, built of red brick with stone pointings; had latticed bow windows, and an arched door, covered by a porch, which was supported by pillars, in the front of which, his arms were engraved; the rooms were not numerous, but of good size, and it was altogether a plain, substantial, comfortable residence, here he occasionally retired from the fatigues of his profession, and it was in this house many of his plays were written. In the year 1603, Shakspeare withdrew from the stage, but until within three years of his death he had some connexion with it, either as proprietor or manager. The latter years of his life were spent in ease and enjoyment, for he had acquired a comfortable independence, possessed good health, and was surrounded by his relations and friends; it was he planted that celebrated Mulberry-tree, which has made so much noise in the world, and the lovers of harmony and antiquity had lately a great treat in hearing Braham sing Behold this fair Goblet," (composed by Garrick,) with the cup in his hand carved from the identical tree. This relic of our Bard does not survive, as a Rev. Gentleman, who rented

the house cut it down, to avoid the trou ble of shewing it to visitors. This action so disgusted the good people of Stratford, that they soon forced the perpetrator of such a sacrilegious act to quit the town. Shakspeare died on the 23rd April, 1616, the anniversary of his birth, having just completed his 52d year, and was buried in the north side of the Chancel of Stratford Church, with this inscription, supposed to be written by himself upon the slab which covers his remains:

"Good Friend, for Jesus's sake forbeare,
To digg the dust enclosed here;
Bless'd be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones."

Soon after his death, an elegant monument was erected to his memory, near his Grave, and in 1740, another, but a much finer specimen of art was placed at the public expence in Westminster Abbey.

We have now a few words to say as to the character of this great man, and we think the best method of shewing what his abilities were, is to point out the reward he obtained for them. Shakspeare was born in obscurity, educated in comparative poverty, and was at an early age obliged to subsist upon his own means. From this state he rose to be the first dramatist in his and succeeding ages, was warmly patronized by three sovereigns, and most of the nobility; claimed the friendship and acquaintance of all the literary men of his time, was enabled to retire from the busy scenes of life with independence; and finally, resigned his soul to his Maker with composure and resignation. H. R.

MOONLIGHT WANDERINGS.

When the moon bedecks the tranquil night,
With the silver ray of her lambent light,
And the far-off sound o' the nightingale's song,
Vibrates the caverns and dells among,
And the dark wood's shade, on the bright
expanse,
Invites our boat in its gloom to dance,
And bathe their wings in the clear moonshine,
Where elvin sprites sip eglantine,
A greeting responds from the frolicsome band;
"Welcome, ye lovers to Fairy-land."
Full dearly I love with thee, o'er the brine,
To roam in this hour, sweet lady of mine.

Now recedes the glimmering shore,
And the night-bird's lay is heard no more,
And the dark woods seem like a distant cloud,
Inwrapt in their silent misty shroud.
Glide on, glide on, my bonny bark,
Thy

trackless way in the salt wave mark;

Reckless are we which way ye glide,
Flow on, flow on, with the courteous tide,
The moon gleams bright, with her consort star,
While naught is heard from the world afar,
And the breeze as it passes seems to moan,
"""Twas made for thee and thy lover alone."

When the infant morn from her cradle woke,
And welcomed Sol, who her slumbers broke,
I murmured my love, as we wandered among
The glittering dew, to the lark's sweet song:
Again, in the glow of the noontide sun,
My vows of love, their course have run,
And when he shot forth his farewell gleam,
In thine ear was pour'd the pleasing theme:
But say, my sweet, in this hour of bliss,
Need I swear, my love, in a night like this?
The rippling wave, and the mein we wear,
With the silent kiss, are true love's gear.

Oh! that this night would never end,
But the moon for aye with such rovings blend:
That the nether world, in an endless day,
Might shine in the sun's refulgent ray :
But mark my love in the distance far,
The pale blue day resumes her car,
And the waning moon resigns her sway,
As she dies in the sickly light away :
Adieu! sweet orb we part in sorrow,
Adieu! till we greet thee again to-morrow.
Haste we my lady, through wave and wood,
Ere the gaudy sun illumes the flood.

MANY instances of epitaphs, in prose and in verse, may be collected from the

THE ORIGIN OF BELLS.

Bells were first brought into use by St. Paulinus, Bishop of Nola,† in the Čampania of Rome: hence a bell was called Nolas or Campagna. At first they were called Saints: hence toc-saint, or toc-sin

in process of time. But Pliny reports,

that many ages before his time bells were in use, and called Tintinabula, and Sueto nius says, that Augustus had one put at the gate of the Temple of Jupiter, to call the meeting of the people.

ORIGIN OF ACCENTS AND POINTS.

Julius Scaliger, in his writings observes that the grave accents made use of in the printing of Latin authors, were introduced into practice in his time (the 16th century). But as they cannot be any assistance in marking the different meanings of the same words when pronounced, or distinguishing them as nouns and adverbs, they should be omitted in the Latin classics. He also observes that the use of commas and semicolons was invented in his time, by Manutius, and entirely unknown to the ancients.

ORIGIN OF THE LOG BOOK.

Coelbren y Beirrd, or the wood memorial of the bards, is what they formerly used to cut their memorandums upon. Such was the ancient wooden almanack, and the Staffordshire clogg, or log spoke of by Dr. Plot in his Natural History of Staffordshire, Hence originated the logbook, which is used by the sailors. There is a similar thing called a talley, or a piece of wood cut with indentures or notches, in two corresponding parts, of which one was kept by the debtor, and the other by the creditor, as was formerly the common way of keeping all accounts. Hence the tally-office, and letters of the Exchequer in London) from the word talu, to pay; or from the French taille.

Laconics;

OR,

were but children compared to the Chaldeans and Egyptians. The earliest precedent of epitaphs is that which is recorded in the most ancient history, viz. The Old Testament, 1 Sam. vi. 18; where it is recorded that "the great stone erected as a memorial unto Abel," by his father Adam, remained unto that day in being, and its name was called "the Stone of Abel," and its elegy was, "here was shed the blood of Abel;" as it was also called 4,000 years after, Matt. xxiii. 35.

from various Sources.

DETRACTION.

There is seldom any thing uttered in malice, which turns not to the hurt of the speaker. Ill reports do harm to him that makes them; and to those they are made to, as well as those they are made of.

+ St. Paulinus was bishop of Nola, A. n. 409. He was famous for his piety, and his professional labours.