Today is the day that traditionally marks the birth of the Bard, William Shakespeare, that famous Elizabethan playwright and actor in 1564. It is not known on what date Shakespeare was actually born but he was baptised at Stratford-upon-Avon on the 26th April 1564 and baptism usually took place around three days after birth.
William Shakespeare also died on this day in 1616. He was buried at the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, in the chancel with the epitaph:-
“Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare,
To digg the dvst encloased heare.
Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,
And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.”
or in modern English:-
“Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear,”
“To dig the dust enclosed here.”
“Blessed be the man that spares these stones,”
“And cursed be he who moves my bones.”
You can find out more about William Shakespeare in my article “William Shakespeare”, but please do share in the comments section below your favourite Shakespeare quotation.
Related posts:
A Video to Celebrate William Shakespeare’s Birthday!
Celebrating Shakespeare’s Birth
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare’s resting place
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Campaigns Against Anonymous Film
A Belated Happy Birthday to William Cecil, Lord Burghley and RIP Sir John Cheke
Happy 485th Birthday John Dee!
Anonymous: Was Shakespeare a Fraud?
Happy Birthday Edward VI – Venus and Saturn in Conjunction
Happy Birthday Good Queen Bess!
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
On This Day in History – Sir Francis Drake Knighted and the Birth of William Strachey
It always seems amazing to me that he achieved so much in what we would consider to be a very short life, but then that was in keeping with the mortality rates of the time. Did the nature of life back then perhaps encourage an earlier push to get things done, or an enhanced creativity? We do seem to have a “Plenty of time for that” attitude today, indeed, I am older now than when Shakespeare died and am considered young, with plenty of time to learn and do things in the future( I hope that’s the case )!
Watched “Shakespeare in Love ” last night . I love Shakespeare and so do my husband and eldest daughter whilst second daughter is aiming at being an actress, so he’s never far from someone’s lips here!