Note 139 — GREVILLE and JULIA.
Reading edition
l. 7.—“And clay-cold was her lily hand “That held her sable shroud.” William and Margaret.
The epithet lily is too nice and pretty for its situation, and sable seems utterly improper, since shrouds were white in Mallet’s time, as in ours. Perhaps the epithet sable, temporarily inapplicable, has been one reason for believing the whole of this Ballad ancient, since it was probably the old custom to wrap the dead in black stuff, or linen. The gathering up the sepulchral robe from her feet, instead of merely holding it, is one of Vincent Bourne’s variations, and adds the grace of motion to the figure. Statue-like stillness is not necessary to apparition-costume. The ghost in Hamlet beckons the prince to follow it.