The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0187  Friday, 17 March 2006

From: 		Joseph Egert <
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Date: 		Thursday, 16 Mar 2006 21:08:14 +0000
Subject: 	APB on Missing Epitaph

In the Spring 1988 issue of RENAISSANCE QUARTERLY (v.39, p.60), Robert 
Evans reported the following epitaph, written in secretary hand of the 
1620s on the last end page of Folger Folio no. 26, sandwiched (by the 
same pen) between the known Stratford monument "Stay passenger" and 
"Good ffriend" transcriptions:

   Heere Shakespeare lyes whome none but Death could Shake
   and heere shall ly till iudgement all awake;
   when the last trumpet doth unclose his eyes
   the wittiest poet in the world shall rise.

Has there been any progress tracking down the background of this 
epitaph? Was it originally inscribed at the Shakespeare burial site on 
stone or plaque?  Has the original writer or later transcriber been 
identified? Does the epitaph remain otherwise uncited during the 17th & 
18th Cs?

Just wondering,
Joe Egert

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