William Shakespeare’s gravestone, located at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, bears the following epitaph, which is believed to have been written by Shakespeare himself:
“Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones.”
This epitaph is a warning to anyone who might disturb his grave. It reflects a common fear in Shakespeare’s time that bodies would be exhumed for anatomical study or other reasons. The lines are written in a poetic and somewhat humorous way, blending a reverence for the deceased with a touch of superstition.