Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/291

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sculpture is painted white, which, it seems, was done a few years since by the direction of Mr. Malone, who preferred this uniform colour to the various tints which then covered the different parts of the bust. The story of the alteration is this: The bust had been originally coloured as near to nature and reality in the complexion, hair, and dress, as possible; but time having faded the co- lours considerablv, the manager of a company of comedians, which were performing in Stratford about fifty-five years ago, in the enthusiasm of his zeal for the memory of the bard, determined to rescue his Apollo from the dingincss of his appear- ance, and to dress him out in fresh decorations. He accordingly dedicated one night towards rais- ing a fund for the purpose; the house was well intended, and a pretty large surplus remained for the adornment of the bust. But as the vanity of this Thespis was not inferior to his admiration of Shakespeare, he resolved to make the projected improvements commemorative of himself, as well as the poet; and accordingly directed Pallet to ac- commodate his colours to the dress and hair, eyes and complexion, of himself. Cruel Mr. Malone! who could thus obliterate the only vestiges by which this poor son of the buskin might hope to hand

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