The Roads That Lead To It Are All
Along Their Sides Planted With Shrubs; These, Being Modern And
Lively, Make A Pleasing Contrast To The Fine Old Mossy Walls.
On
the top of this tower the flag of Great Britain is usually
displayed, which, however, as it was now late in the evening, was
taken in.
As I came down from the castle I saw the king driving up to it in a
very plain, two-wheeled, open carriage. The people here were
politer than I used to think they were in London, for I did not see
a single person, high or low, who did not pull off their hats as
their sovereign passed them.
I was now again in Windsor, and found myself, not far from the
castle, opposite to a very capital inn, where I saw many officers
and several persons of consequence going in and out. And here at
this inn, contrary to all expectation, I was received by the
landlord with great civility, and even kindness - very contrary to
the haughty and insolent airs which the upstart at the other, and
his jackanapes of a waiter, there thought fit to give themselves.
However, it seemed to be my fate to be still a scandal and an
eyesore to all the waiters. The maid, by the order of her master,
showed me a room where I might adjust my dress a little; but I could
hear her mutter and grumble as she went along with me. Having put
myself a little to rights, I went down into the coffee-room, which
is immediately at the entrance of the house, and told the landlord
that I thought I wished to have yet one more walk. On this he
obligingly directed me to stroll down a pleasant field behind his
house, at the foot of which, he said, I should find the Thames, and
a good bathing place.
I followed his advice; and this evening was, if possible, finer than
the preceding. Here again, as I had been told I should, I found the
Thames with all its gentle windings. Windsor shone nearly as bright
over the green vale as those charming houses on Richmond Hill, and
the verdure was not less soft and delicate. The field I was in
seemed to slope a little towards the Thames. I seated myself near a
bush, and there waited the going down of the sun. At a distance I
saw a number of people bathing in the Thames. When, after sunset,
they were a little dispersed, I drew near the spot I had been
directed to; and here, for the first time, I sported in the cool
tide of the Thames. The bank was steep, but my landlord had dug
some steps that went down into the water, which is extremely
convenient for those who cannot swim. Whilst I was there, a couple
of smart lively apprentice boys came also from the town, who, with
the greatest expedition, threw off their clothes and leathern
aprons, and plunged themselves, head foremost, into the water, where
they opposed the tide with their sinewy arms till they were tired.
They advised me, with much natural civility, to untie my hair, and
that then, like them, I might plunge into the stream head foremost.
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