Statua is the Latin form of statue, in common use in Shakespeare’s time; this form is required here by the meter.

LXXVIII.  THE ENGLISH CHARACTER. (286)

William Hickling Prescott, 1796-1859, the historian, was the son of William Prescott, an eminent jurist, and the grandson of Col.  William Prescott, who commanded the Americans at the battle of Bunker Hill.  He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, graduated at Harvard University in 1814, and died in Boston.  Just as he was completing his college course, the careless sport of a fellow-student injured one of his eyes so seriously that he never recovered from it.  He had intended to adopt law as his profession; but, from his detective eyesight, he was obliged to choose work in which he could regulate his hours of labor, and could employ the aid of a secretary.  He chose to be a historian; and followed his choice with wonderful system, perseverance, and success till the close of his life.  His works are:  “The Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella,” “The Conquest of Mexico,” “The Conquest of Peru,” “The Reign of Philip ii,” and a volume of “Miscellanies.”  He had not completed the history of Philip at the time of his death.  As a writer of history, Mr. Prescott ranks with the first for accuracy, precision, clearness, and beauty of style.  As a man, he was genial, kind-hearted and even-tempered. ###

On the whole, what I have seen raises my preconceived estimate of the English character.  It is full of generous, true, and manly qualities; and I doubt if there ever was so high a standard of morality in an aristocracy which has such means for self-indulgence at its command, and which occupies a position that secures it so much deference.  In general, they do not seem to abuse their great advantages.  The respect for religion—­at least for the forms of it—­is universal, and there are few, I imagine, of the great proprietors who are not more or less occupied with improving their estates, and with providing for the comfort of their tenantry, while many take a leading part in the great political movements of the time.  There never was an aristocracy which combined so much practical knowledge and industry with the advantages of exalted rank.

The Englishman is seen to most advantage in his country home.  For he is constitutionally both domestic and rural in his habits.  His fireside and his farm—­these are the places in which one sees his simple and warm-hearted nature more freely unfolded.  There is a shyness in an Englishman, —­a natural reserve, which makes him cold to strangers, and difficult to approach.  But once corner him in his own house, a frank and full expansion will be given to his feelings that we should look for in vain in the colder Yankee, and a depth not to be found in the light and superficial Frenchman,—­speaking of nationalities, not of individualities.