RetirementandDeath5

 Shakespeare loved his childhood home in Stratford-Upon-Avon so when it was time he decided to retire back to home. According to __Shakespeare__ published by Eyewitness Books, he Shakespeare finished his work on //The Tempest// in 1611 Shakespeare returned to Stratford. He had inherited the house that he grew up in from his father, but wanted to live in New Place. He had became very wealthy from his career in theatre, he was able to purchase the second largest house in New Place. Shakespeare continued to write for about two years during his retirement. Unfortunately for William Shakespeare he was only able to enjoy a few years of retirement before dying on April 23, 1616. According to “Shakespeare’s Death” published by //The University of Victoria//, the cause of Shakespeare’s death is unknown but some scholars suggest that signatures indicate that he was already sick at the date of the signing of his will, March 25, 1616. Although Amanda Mabillard, author of “How did Shakespeare Die?” published be //Shakespeare Online// said that “an entry in the diary of John Ward, the vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford (where Shakespeare is buried), tells us that "Shakespeare, Drayton, and Ben Jonson had a merry meeting and it seems drank too hard, for Shakespeare died of a fever there contracted." “The Burial of William Shakespeare” published by //PBS.org// offers proof from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Records Office, that Shakespeare was buried on April 25, 1616 at his hometown church, Holly Trinity. I find his grave very interesting. Amanda Mabillard, author of “Shakespeare’s Burial” published by //Shakespeare Online// said that on Shakespeare’s grave contained a curse. The curse read: //Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones,  And cursed be he that moves my bones.// //The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust// offers a translation of the curse in their article “What does the curse on your grave say?” “The translation is, Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,  To dig the dust enclosed here,  Blest be the man that spares these stones,  And curst be he that moves my bones.” “Westminster Abbey Memorial Statue in London” published by //William Shakespeare Info// talks about the Memorial given to Shakespeare in 1740 at Westminster Abbey. The memorial contains a life size white marble statue of Shakespeare that was sponsored by the Earl of Burlington, Dr. Mead, Alexander Pope, and Mr. Martin. The beautiful statue was designed by William Kent and was cared by Peter Scheemakers. There is an inscription above the head of the statue, that in English, means //“William Shakespeare l24 years after death by public esteem”// The pedestal of the statue is believed to contain carved heads of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry V, and Richard III. In the statue William is leaning his elbow on a pile of books and his left had is pointing to a scroll detailing a variant Prospero’s lines, in Latin, from The Tempest:  //The Cloud capt Tow’rs, The Gorgeous Palaces, The Solemn Temples,  The Great Globe itself, Yea all which it Inherit, Shall Dissolve; And like the baseless Fabrick of a Vision, Leave not a wreck behind.// It is still today thought by some that Shakespeare should be moved to Westminster Abbey but people still fear the curst inscribed on his gravestone. Work Cited