Identifier: westminsterabbey02prat (find matches)
Title: Westminster abbey, its architecture, history and monuments
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Pratt, Helen Marshall
Subjects: Westminster Abbey Great Britain -- Kings and rulers
Publisher: New York : Duffield & company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ed hood or canopy all richlycarved, contains the alabaster figure of theinfant Princess Sophia, daughter of JamesI, only three days old when she died in1606. This, one of the best knowntombs in the Abbey is called the CradleTomb, and has been the subject of severalpoems. The Latin epitaph on the vergeof the tomb prettily describes the child asa royal rosebud plucked by prematurefate . . . that she might flourish againin the rosary of Christ. A richlywrought alabaster coverlid is draped overthe pretty figure of a sleeping infant, andspreads out amply over the high stone baseon which the cradle rests. The chubbyface of the tiny princess, her eyes partlyopen, looks towards the east and is pro-tected, as if from draught, by the hand ofa careful mother, by a curve in the cover-let, as straightened for the last good-night. And so here she sleeps, the littleScotch Sophia. A copy of Susan Coo-lidges poem on this tomb was copied andplaced on the wall near by, at the requestof Lady Stanley. 562
Text Appearing After Image:
The Side Aisles of the Chapel It seems no more than yesterdaySince the sad mother, down the stair And down the long aisle stole awayAnd left her darling sleeping there. Above the peaceful pillowed headThree centuries brood, and strangers peep And wonder at the carved bed—But not unwept the babys sleep. For wistful mother eyes are blurredWith sudden mists, as lingerers stay. Soft furtive hands caress the stoneAnd hearts oer leaping place and age Melt into memories and ownA thrill of common parentage. A very elaborate wardrobe had beenprepared for the child and great prepara-tions made for the christening and attend-ant festivities. The King of Denmarkwas to come over to be sponsor for hisgrandchild: but a solemn funeral and a tinymonument were all that the loving parentscould bestow on the little princess. Shedied at Greenwich palace, whence her bodywas brought in a barge richly covered withblack velvet to the Abbey, all the greatlords of the Council with the herald andchief officers

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