BOOK SEVENTH.

RESIDENCE IN LONDON.

SIX changeful years have vanished since | With preparation artful and benign,
I first
That the rough lord had left the surly
Poured out (saluted by that quickening
North
breeze

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.)

Of what my fond simplicity believed 85 Articulate music. Above all, one thous

Strangers, not knowing each the other's Of a too busy world! Before me flow, Thou endless stream of men and moving things!

0, wond'rous power of words, by simple Thy every-day appearance, as it strikesfaith With wonder heightened, or sublimed by

124 Shop after shop, with symbols, blazoned names,

Of Westminster; the Giants of Guild- There, allegoric shapes, female or male,
hall;
Or physiognomies of real men.
Bedlam, and those carved maniacs at the Land-warriors, kings, or admirals of the

And the horse under him-in gilded pomp
Adorning flowery gardens, 'mid vast Of some quack-doctor, famous in his

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,
Is, peradventure, one in masquerade.
As on the broadening causeway we ad-
vance,

Behold, turned upwards, a face hard and
strong

200

In lineaments, and red with over-toil.
'Tis one encountered here and every-
where ;

A travelling cripple, by the trunk cut short,
And stumping on his arms. In sailor's
garb

Another lies at length, beside a range
Of well-formed characters, with chalk in-
scribed
206

Upon the smooth flat stones: the Nurse
is here,

The Bachelor, that loves to sun himself,
The military Idler, and the Dame,
That field-ward takes her walk with decent
steps.

210

Of every nature, and strange plants con vened

From every clime; and, next, those sights
that ape

The absolute presence of reality,
Expressing, as in mirror, sea and land,
And what earth is, and what she has
show.

I do not here allude to subtlest craft,
By means refined attaining purest ends,
But imitations, fondly made in plain
Confession of man's weakness and
loves.

Whether the Painter, whose ambition
skill

Submits to nothing less than taking in
A whole horizon's circuit, do with po*}
Like that of angels or commission
spirits,

Now homeward through the thickening Fix us upon some lofty pinnacle,

hubbub, where

See, among less distinguishable shapes,
The begging scavenger, with hat in hand;

Or in a ship on waters, with a world
Of life, and life-like mockery beneath,
Above, behind, far stretching and before

Some miniature of famous spots or
things,-

St. Peter's Church; or, more aspiring aim,
In microscopic vision, Rome herself;
Or, haply, some choice rural haunt,-the
Falls

Of Tivoli; and, high upon that steep, 255
The Sibyl's mouldering Temple! every
tree,

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
Unless itself be pleased, here more than

And how, unfaithful to a virtuous wife
Deserted and deceived, the Spoiler came
And wooed the artless daughter of the
hills,
300

And wedded her, in cruel mockery
Of love and marriage bonds. These words
to thee

Must needs bring back the moment when
we first,

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,
With admiration of her modest mien
And carriage, marked by unexampled

grace.

We since that time not unfamiliarly Have seen her, her discretion have observed,

-

310

Her just opinions, delicate reserve,
Her patience, and humility of mind
Unspoiled by commendation and the

excess

Of public notice-an offensive light
To a meek spirit suffering inwardly. 315

From this memorial tribute to my theme I was returning, when, with sundry forms