THE LONGMAN LETTERS. 209 



with grass, how the brambles extend over the 

 fields, and in time woods occupy the country. 

 These woods are filled with wild animals 

 descendants of the dogs, cats, swine, horses, 

 and cattle that were left, and gradually re- 

 turned to their original wild nature. The 

 rivers are choked, and a great lake forms in 

 the centre of the island. 



" Such inhabitants as remain are resident 

 about the shores of the lake the forest being 

 without roads, and their only communication 

 being by water. They have lost printing and 

 gunpowder; they use the bow and arrow, and 

 wear armour, but retain some traces of the 

 arts and of civilization. At the same time, 

 slavery exists, and moral tyranny. There are 

 numerous petty kingdoms and republics at war 

 with each other. Knights and barons possess 

 fortified dwellings, and exercise unbounded 

 power within their stockaded estates stock- 

 aded against bushmen, forest savages, against 

 bands of gipsies, and against wild cattle and 

 horses. 



" The Welsh issue from their mountains, 

 claiming England as having belonged to their 



14 



