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beats Scott hollow； and Percy too： but； sir； the day for these
things is gone by； nobody at present cares for Percy； nor for Scott
either； save as a novelist； sorry to discourage merit； sir； but
what can I do！ What else have you got？'
'The songs of Ab Gwilym； the Welsh bard； also translated by myself；
with notes critical； philological； and historical。'
'Pass on … what else？'
'Nothing else；' said I； folding up my manuscript with a sigh；
'unless it be a romance in the German style； on which； I confess； I
set very little value。'
'Wild？'
'Yes； sir； very wild。'
'Like the Miller of the Black Valley？'
'Yes； sir； very much like the Miller of the Black Valley。'
'Well； that's better；' said the publisher； 'and yet； I don't know；
I question whether any one at present cares for the miller himself。
No； sir； the time for those things is also gone by； German； at
present； is a drug； and； between ourselves； nobody has contributed
to make it so more than my good friend and correspondent； … but；
sir； I see you are a young gentleman of infinite merit； and I
always wish to encourage merit。 Don't you think you could write a
series of evangelical tales？'
'Evangelical tales； sir？'
'Yes； sir； evangelical novels。'
'Something in the style of Herder？'
'Herder is a drug； sir； nobody cares for Herder … thanks to my good
friend。 Sir； I have in yon drawer a hundred pages about Herder；
which I dare not insert in my periodical； it would sink it； sir。
No； sir； something in the style of the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER。'
'I never heard of the work till the present moment。'
'Then； sir； procure it by all means。 Sir； I could afford as much
as ten pounds for a well…written tale in the style of the
DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER； that is the kind of literature； sir； that
sells at the present day！ It is not the Miller of the Black Valley
… no； sir； nor Herder either； that will suit the present taste； the
evangelical body is becoming very strong； sir； the canting
scoundrels … '
'But； sir； surely you would not pander to a scoundrelly taste？'
'Then； sir； I must give up business altogether。 Sir； I have a
great respect for the goddess Reason … an infinite respect； sir；
indeed； in my time； I have made a great many sacrifices for her；
but； sir； I cannot altogether ruin myself for the goddess Reason。
Sir； I am a friend to Liberty； as is well known； but I must also be
a friend to my own family。 It is with the view of providing for a
son of mine that I am about to start the Review of which I was
speaking。 He has taken into his head to marry； sir； and I must do
something for him； for he can do but little for himself。 Well；
sir； I am a friend to Liberty； as I said before； and likewise a
friend to Reason； but I tell you frankly that the Review which I
intend to get up under the rose； and present him with when it is
established； will be conducted on Oxford principles。'
'Orthodox principles； I suppose you mean； sir？'
'I do； sir； I am no linguist； but I believe the words are
synonymous。'
Much more conversation passed between us； and it was agreed that I
should become a contributor to the Oxford Review。 I stipulated；
however； that； as I knew little of politics； and cared less； no
other articles should be required from me than such as were
connected with belles…lettres and philology； to this the big man
readily assented。 'Nothing will be required from you；' said he；
'but what you mention； and now and then； perhaps； a paper on
metaphysics。 You understand German； and perhaps it would be
desirable that you should review Kant； and in a review of Kant；
sir； you could introduce to advantage your peculiar notions about
EX NIHILO。' He then reverted to the subject of the DAIRYMAN'S
DAUGHTER； which I promised to take into consideration。 As I was
going away； he invited me to dine with him on the ensuing Sunday。
'That's a strange man！' said I to myself； after I had left the
house； 'he is evidently very clever； but I cannot say that I like
him much； with his Oxford Reviews and Dairyman's Daughters。 But
what can I do？ I am almost without a friend in the world。 I wish
I could find some one who would publish my ballads； or my songs of
Ab Gwilym。 In spite of what the big man says； I am convinced that；
once published； they would bring me much fame and profit。 But how
is this？ … what a beautiful sun！ … the porter was right in saying
that the day would clear up … I will now go to my dingy lodging；
lock up my manuscripts； and then take a stroll about the big city。'
CHAPTER XXXI
The walk … London's Cheape … Street of the Lombards … Strange
bridge … Main arch … The roaring gulf … The boat … Cly…faking … A
comfort … The book … The blessed woman … No trap。
SO I set out on my walk to see the wonders of the big city； and； as
chance would have it； I directed my course to the east。 The day；
as I have already said； had become very fine； so that I saw the
great city to advantage； and the wonders thereof： and much I
admired all I saw； and； amongst other things； the huge cathedral；
standing so proudly on the most commanding ground in the big city；
and I looked up to the mighty dome； surmounted by a golden cross；
and I said within myself； 'That dome must needs be the finest in
the world'； and I gazed upon it till my eyes reeled； and my brain
became dizzy； and I thought that the dome would fall and crush me；
and I shrank within myself； and struck yet deeper into the heart of
the big city。
'O Cheapside！ Cheapside！' said I； as I advanced up that mighty
thoroughfare； 'truly thou art a wonderful place for hurry； noise；
and riches！ Men talk of the bazaars of the East … I have never
seen them … but I daresay that； compared with thee； they are poor
places； silent places； abounding with empty boxes； O thou pride of
London's east！ … mighty mart of old renown！ … for thou art not a
place of yesterday：… long before the Roses red and white battled in
fair England； thou didst exist … a place of throng and bustle …
place of gold and silver； perfumes and fine linen。 Centuries ago
thou couldst extort the praises even of the fiercest foes of
England。 Fierce bards of Wales； sworn foes of England； sang thy
praises centuries ago； and even the fiercest of them all； Red
Julius himself； wild Glendower's bard； had a word of praise for
London's 'Cheape；' for so the bards of Wales styled thee in their
flowing odes。 Then； if those who were not English； and hated
England； and all connected therewith； had yet much to say in thy
praise； when thou wast far inferior to what thou art now； why
should true…born Englishmen； or those who call themselves so； turn
up their noses at thee； and scoff thee at the present day； as I
believe they do？ But； let others do as they will； I； at least； who
am not only an Englishman； but an East Englishman； will not turn up
my nose at thee； but will praise and extol thee； calling thee mart
of the world … a place of wonder and astonishment！ … and； were it
right and fitting to wish that anything should endure for ever； I
would say prosperity to Cheapside； throughout all ages … may it be
the world's resort for merchandise； world without end。
And when I had passed through the Cheape I entered another street；
which led up a kind of ascent； and which proved to be the street of
the Lombards； called so from the name of its first founders； and I
walked rapidly up the street of the Lombards； neither looking to
the right nor left； for it had no interest for me； though I had a
kind of consciousness that mighty things were being transacted
behind its walls： but it wanted the throng； bustle； and outward
magnificence of the Cheape； and it had never been spoken of by
'ruddy bards'！ And； when I had got to the end of the street of the
Lombards； I stood still for some time； deliberating within myself
whether I should turn to the right or the left； or go straight
forward； and at last I turned to the right； down a street of rapid
descent； and presently found myself upon a bridge which traversed
the river which runs by the big city。
A strange kind of bridge it was； huge and massive； and seemingly of
great antiquity。 It had an arched back； like that of a hog； a high
balustrade； and at either side； at intervals； were stone bowers
bulking over the river； but open on the other side； and furnished
with a semicircular bench。 Though the bridge was wide … very wide
… it was all too narrow for the concourse upon it。 Thousands of
human beings were pouring over the bridge。 But what chiefly struck
my attention was a double row of carts and wagons； the generality
drawn by horses as large as elephants； each row striving hard in a
different direction； and not unfrequently brought to a stand…still。
Oh