there rests Richard Yates, the original "Sir Oliver Surface"; and there
were laid the ashes of the romantic Mrs. Centlivre, and of George
Farquhar, whom neither youth, genius, patient labor, nor sterling
achievement could save from a life of misfortune and an untimely, piteous
death. A cheerier association of this church is with the poet Thomas
Moore, who was there married. At St. Giles's-in-the-Fields are the graves
of George Chapman, who translated Homer; Andrew Marvel, who wrote such
lovely lyrics; Rich, the manager, who brought out "The Beggar's Opera,"
and James Shirley, the fine dramatist and poet, whose immortal couplet has
often been murmured in such solemn haunts as these:

Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.

Shirley was one of the most fertile, accomplished, admirable, and admired
of writers, during the greater part of his life (1596-1666), and the study
of his writing amply rewards the diligence of the student. His plays,
about forty in number, of which "The Traitor" is deemed the best tragedy
and "The Lady of Pleasure" the best comedy, comprehend a wide variety of
subject and exhibit refinement, deep feeling, and sustained fluency of
graceful expression. His name is associated with St. Albans, where he
dwelt as a school-teacher, and, in London, with Gray's Inn, where at one
time he resided.




II

CATHEDRALS AND ABBEYS