BOOK SEVENTH. RESIDENCE IN LONDON. SIX changeful years have vanished since | With preparation artful and benign, 25 On his accustomed journey.) The delight, Which met me issuing from the City's1 Due to this timely notice, unawares walls) Smote me, and, listening, I in whispers Through the whole summer have I been Of Winter that had warbled at my door, And the whole year breathed tenderness at rest, and love.) Nor checked by aught of tamer argument, That lies before us, needful to be told. 51 Returned from that excursion1, soon I bade Farewell for ever to the sheltered seats Of gowned students, quitted hall and bower, And every comfort of that privileged ground, 55 Well pleased to pitch a vagrant tent among The unfenced regions of society. Yet, undetermined to what course of life 60 I should adhere, and seeming to possess From dangerous passions free. (Three 65 years had flown Since I had felt in heart and soul the shock Of the huge town's first presence, and had paced Her endless streets, a transient visitant:) There was a time when whatsoe'er is feigned 81 Of airy palaces, and gardens built Sate on a stone, and heard the bells speak out Of what my fond simplicity believed 85 Articulate music. Above all, one thous 1 See page 680. Baffled my understanding: how men lived Even next-door neighbours, as we say, yet still Rise up, thou monstrous ant-hill on the plain Strangers, not knowing each the other's Of a too busy world! Before me flow, Thou endless stream of men and moving things! name. 151 0, wond'rous power of words, by simple Thy every-day appearance, as it strikesfaith With wonder heightened, or sublimed by Licensed to take the meaning that we love! Vauxhall and Ranelagh! I then had heard 121 Of your green groves, and wilderness of lamps Dimming the stars, and fireworks magical, And gorgeous ladies, under splendid domes, 124 Shop after shop, with symbols, blazoned names, Floating in dance, or warbling high in air And all the tradesman's honours overhead: 161 Here, fronts of houses, like a title-page, With letters huge inscribed from top to toe; Stationed above the door, like guardian saints, Of Westminster; the Giants of Guild- There, allegoric shapes, female or male, gates, Perpetually recumbent; Statues-man, sea, 165 Boyle, Shakspeare, Newton, or the attractive head And the horse under him-in gilded pomp Thrilled by some female vendor's scream, The Italian, as he thrids his way with care, Look out on waters, walks, and gardens green.) Thence back into the throng, until we reach, Following the tide that slackens by degrees, 190 And every character of form and face: Some half-frequented scene, where wider The Swede, the Russian; from the genal That, fronted with a most imposing word, Behold, turned upwards, a face hard and 200 In lineaments, and red with over-toil. A travelling cripple, by the trunk cut short, Another lies at length, beside a range Upon the smooth flat stones: the Nurse The Bachelor, that loves to sun himself, 210 Of every nature, and strange plants con vened From every clime; and, next, those sights The absolute presence of reality, I do not here allude to subtlest craft, Whether the Painter, whose ambition Submits to nothing less than taking in Now homeward through the thickening Fix us upon some lofty pinnacle, hubbub, where See, among less distinguishable shapes, Or in a ship on waters, with a world Some miniature of famous spots or St. Peter's Church; or, more aspiring aim, Of Tivoli; and, high upon that steep, 255 Villa, or cottage, lurking among rocks Throughout the landscape; tuft, stone, scratch minute All that the traveller sees when he is there. 259 Add to these exhibitions, mute and still, Others of wider scope, where living men, Music, and shifting pantomimic scenes, Diversified the allurement. Need I fear To mention by its name, as in degree, Lowest of these and humblest in attempt, Yet richly graced with honours of her own, Half-rural Sadler's Wells? Though at that time 267 Intolerant, as is the way of youth And how, unfaithful to a virtuous wife And wedded her, in cruel mockery Must needs bring back the moment when Ere the broad world rang with the maiden's name, Clowns, conjurors, posture-masters, har- Beheld her serving at the cottage inn; lequins, Amid the uproar of the rabblement, Perform their feats. Nor was it mean delight To watch crude Nature work in untaught minds; 275 304 Both stricken, as she entered or withdrew, grace. We since that time not unfamiliarly Have seen her, her discretion have observed, - 310 Her just opinions, delicate reserve, excess Of public notice-an offensive light From this memorial tribute to my theme I was returning, when, with sundry forms |