ON THE COAST OF AERAN 77 



by a silvery film which doubles their thickness. 

 When drawn out of the water this film magically 

 disappears, and it is then seen to consist of 

 innumerable minute filaments which are erect 

 in their native element, but which fall when 

 brought into the air. 



I note what are the colours of this seascape. 

 The weeds are chiefly brown and yellow, with 

 some little crimson ; the water is clear green ; 

 the common stones are all gemmed or silvered ; 

 and where beds of sand run between them the 

 tint is that of gold. Seen through the medium 

 of the water, the meanest object becomes beau- 

 tiful. It suffers 



A sea-change 

 Into something rich and strange. 



To utter these words is, of course, to bring 

 before one's mind the whole of that delightful 

 Eomance of the Sea which Shakespeare gave us 

 in the calm ending of his days ; and no small 

 part of my pleasure, as I lie in the boat, 



