The Sir Roger de Coverley PapersSteele, Richard, Sir
General
The Sir Roger de Coverley Papers
Steele, Richard, Sir
English essays
We were then shown Edward the Confessor's tomb, upon
which Sir Roger acquainted us that he was the first who
touched for the evil; and afterwards Henry the Fourth's,
upon which he shook his head and told us there was fine
reading in the casualties of that reign. (10)
Our conductor then pointed to that monument where
there is the figure of one of our English kings without an
head; and upon giving us to know that the head, which
was of beaten silver, had been stolen away several years
since,--"Some Whig, I'll warrant you," says Sir Roger; (15)
"you ought to lock up your kings better; they will carry
off the body too, if you don't take care."
The glorious names of Henry the Fifth and Queen
Elizabeth gave the knight great opportunities of shining
and of doing justice to Sir Richard Baker, who, as our (20)
knight observed with some surprise, had a great many
kings in him whose monuments he had not seen in the
Abbey.
For my own part, I could not but be pleased to see the
knight show such an honest passion for the glory of his (25)
country, and such a respectful gratitude to the memory
of its princes.
I must not omit that the benevolence of my good old
friend, which flows out towards every one he converses
with, made him very kind to our interpreter, whom he
looked upon as an extraordinary man; for which reason
his shook him by the hand at parting, telling him that he
should be very glad to see him at his lodgings in Norfolk
Buildings, and talk over these matters with him more at (195: 5)
leisure. L.
XXIX. SIR ROGER AT THE PLAY
[No. 335. Tuesday, March 25, 1712. ADDISON.]
Respicere exemplar vitae morumque jubebo
Doctum imitatorem, et vivas hinc ducere voces.
HOR.
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