But  innkeepers  and  vulgar  merchants  said,

Or  rather  hinted,  that  the  king  was  dead  ;

"  Though  the  whole  truth  to  publish  was  afraid

The  Government,  who  fear'd  some  sudden  raid."

You've  seen  the  knowing  air  such  people  take ;

Such  he  saw  now  as  they  their  heads  did  shake.
At  Provins  in  the  evening  'twas  disclosed

That  theatres  in  Paris  had  been  closed.
At  Nangis,  after  sunset,  at  his  door

A  baker  sat,  who  seem'd  to  know  still  more.
The  cool  of  evening  he  would  there  enjoy  ;

But  not  the  less  his  tongue  he  would  employ.
He  thought  that  yesterday  the  king  had  died,

For  a  great  general  from  ther.e  did  ride,

Summon'd  thence  from  his  shooting.    'Twas  the  last

They  heard  that  night ;  for  onwards  then  they  pass'd,

While  risen  high  the  moon  hung  pale  and  bright,

Which  into  Paris  would  their  last  stage  light.
OF  TBAVEL  ASD  ADVEOTUBES,      175

He  always  thought  it  solemn  drawing  near

To  any  capital ;  and  so  'twas  here.
The  Mail,  so  certain  in  its  steady  night,

Seem'd  to  bring  laws  of  nature  to  his  sight,

As  if  from  nothing  else  could  ever  be

Such  sure  and  constant  regularity ;

But  never  felt  he  this  impression  more

Than  now,  as  he  can  read  in  memory's  store*

You  know  those  endless  avenues  which  shade

All  roads  to  Paris,     Theirs  that  night  was  made

More  solemn  still  when  they  at  times  were  pass'd

By  some  express  who  gallop'd  by  them  fast.
No  other  signs  of  life  in  all  around,

Such  solitude  upon  the  road  was  found,

By  trees  o'ershadow'd,  with  vast  plains  in  sight,

And  scatter'd  hamlets  clear  in  lunar  light.
