When I Had
Attained The Summit, I Found (And Not Without Some Shame And
Chagrin) That It Was All An Illusion.
There was, in fact, nothing
before me but a great plain, and the mast had been fixed there,
either as a maypole only, or to entice curious people out of their
way.
I therefore now again, slowly and sullenly, descended the hill, at
the bottom of which was a house, where several people were looking
out of the window, and, as I supposed, laughing at me. Even if it
were so, it seemed to be but fair, and so it rather amused, than
vexed me, and I continued to jog on, without much regretting my
waste journey to the mast.
Not far from Dorchester, I had another delightful view. The country
here became so fine, that I positively could not prevail on myself
to quit it, and so I laid myself down on the green turf, which was
so fresh and sweet, that I could almost have been contented, like
Nebuchadnezzar, to have grazed on it. The moon was at the full; the
sun darted its last parting rays through the green hedges, to all
which was added, the overpowering fragrance of the meadows, the
diversified song of the birds, the hills that skirted the Thames,
some of them of a light, and others of a dark-green hue, with the
tufted tops of trees dispersed here and there among them. The
contemplation of all these delightful circumstances well-nigh
overcame me.
I arrived rather late at Dorchester. This is only a small place,
but there is in it a large and noble old church. As I was walking
along, I saw several ladies with their heads dressed, leaning out of
their windows, or standing before the houses, and this made me
conclude that this was too fine a place for me, and so I determined
to walk on three-quarters of a mile farther to Nuneham, which place
is only five miles from Oxford. When I reached Nuneham, I was not a
little tired, and it was also quite dark.
The place consists of two rows of low, neat houses, built close to
each other, and as regular and uniform as a London street. All the
doors seemed to be shut, and even a light was to be seen only in a
few of them.
At length quite at the end of the place, I perceived a great sign
hanging across the street, and the last house to the left was the
inn, at which everything seemed to be still in motion.
I entered without ceremony, and told them my errand, which was, that
I intended to sleep there that night. "By no means," was the
answer, "it was utterly impossible; the whole house was full, and
all their beds engaged, and, as I had come so far, I might even as
well walk on the remaining five miles to Oxford."
Being very hungry, I requested that, at least, they would give me
something to eat.
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