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Stratford-upon-Avon

Holy Trinity Church

Shakespeare's Monument

In the Holy Trinity Church, on the wall overlooking Shakespeare's tomb,
hangs the Shakespeare Monument, the work of Garratt Janssen (Gerard Johnson),
an Anglo-Flemish tomb-maker from Southwark.

It is constructed from white marble, inlaid with black touchstone,
and has alabaster support brackets.

It is said to have been erected between 1616-1622,
and carries the following inscription

(IUDICO PYLIUM GENIO SOCRATEM, ARTE MARONEM,
TERRA TEGIT, POPVLVS MAERET, OLYMPVS HABET)

STAY PASSENGER, WHY GOEST THOV BY SO FAST,
READ IF THOV MONVMENT SHAKESPEARE: WITH WHOME,
QVICK NATVRE DIDE: WHOSE NAME, DOTH DECK Ys TOMBE,
FAR MORE, THEN COST: SIEH ALL, Yt HE HATH WRITT,
LEAVES LIVING ART, BVT PAGE, TO SERVE HIS WITT.
OBITT ANO DO 1616
AETATIS 53 DIE 23 AP