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and supported by angular buttresses, terminating in pinnacles. Underneath, on an altar-tomb, the bard reposes; his head reclining on three volumes of his works, his hair falling in large curls over his shoulders, and round his temples a wreath of roses. On a plain tablet is an epitaph in Latin verse, and on the margin of the tomb the following inscription:

"Here lieth John Gower, a celebrated English poet, also a benefactor to this sacred edifice, in the times of Edward Third, and Richard Second."

Under the arches of the monument, and against the wall, were painted three female forms, with scrolls, and a superscription in black letter, effaced by time. But a description of this tomb in an antique work says, "John Gower lieth right sumptuously buried, with a garlande on his head, in token that in his life-daies, he did flourish freshly, in literature and science. On the wall, where his bones have a resting-place, there be painted three virgins, with crownes on their heades, one of which holdeth a device in her hande, and over her is written