210 NATURE NEAR LONDON 



merely on the rim this narrow land is but a ribbon to 

 the limitlessness yonder. The wind rushes out upon 

 it with wild joy ; springing from the edge of the earth, 

 it leaps out over the ocean. Let us go back a few 

 steps and recline on the warm dry turf. 



It is pleasant to look back upon the green slope and 

 the hollows and narrow ridges, with sheep and stubble 

 and some low hedges, and oxen, and that old, old sloth 

 the plough creeping in his path. The sun is bright 

 on the stubble and the corners of furze ; there are bees 

 humming yonder, no doubt, and flowers, and hares 

 crouching the dew dried from around them long since, 

 and waiting for it to fall again ; partridges, too, corn-ricks, 

 and the roof of a farmhouse by them. Lit with sunlight 

 are the fields, warm autumn garnering all that is dear to 

 the heart of man, blue heaven above how sweet the 

 wind comes from these ! the sweeter for the knowledge 

 of the profound abyss behind. 



Here, reclining on the grass the verge of the cliff 

 rising a little, shuts out the actual sea the glance goes 

 forth into the hollow unsupported. It is sweeter towards 

 the corn-ricks, and yet the mind will not be satisfied, 

 but ever turns to the unknown. The edge and the abyss 

 recall us; the boundless plain, for it appears solid as 

 the waves are levelled by distance, demands the gaze. 

 But with use it becomes easier, and the eye labours less, 

 There is a promontory standing out from the main wall, 

 whence you can see the side of the cliff, getting a flank 

 view, as from a tower. 



The jackdaws occasionally floating out from the ledge 

 are as mere specks from above, as they were from below. 

 The reef running out from the beach, though now covered 

 by the tide, is visible as you look down on it through 

 the water ; the seaweed, which lay matted and half dry 

 on the rocks, is now under the wave. Boats have come 



