238 MY LIFE 



taken for a long day's excursion. The first time we went to 

 Kenilworth Castle, about thirty miles distant, driving in coaches 

 by pleasant country roads, and passing through Coventry. 

 Towards the autumn we had a much longer excursion, partly 

 by coach and partly by canal boat, to a very picturesque coun- 

 try with wooded hills and limestone cliffs, rural villages, and 

 an isolated hill, from the top of which we had a very fine and 

 extensive view. I think it must have been in Derbyshire, near 

 Wirksworth, as there is a long canal tunnel on the way there. 

 One of the rough out-of-door sketches made on this occasion 

 is reproduced here on a reduced scale, as well as a more fin- 

 ished drawing of some village, perhaps near Leicester, as they 

 may possibly enable some reader to recognize the localities, 

 and also serve to show the limits of my power as an artist. 



At midsummer there was the usual prize-giving, accom- 

 panied by recitation ; and to introduce a little variety I wrote 

 a prologue, in somewhat boyish style, to be spoken by a chubby 

 boy about twelve years old ; and it took me a good deal of 

 trouble to drill him into appropriate emphasis and action. It 

 went off very well, and as it was to some extent a programme 

 as well as a prologue, I give here as much of it as I can 

 recollect. 



PROLOGUE 



With Greek and Latin, French, and other stuff, 



And Euclid too, and Algebra enough, 



For this half-year I'm glad to say we've done, 



And the long looked-for hour at length is come 



That brings before us this superb array 



Of company to grace our holiday. 



We bid you welcome ! and hope each may find 



Something we've chosen suited to his mind; 



Our bill of fare contains some curious dishes 



To satisfy your various tastes and wishes. 



And first, to show our classic lore, we'll speak 



What Sophocles composed in sounding Greek, 



Repeat the words his olden heroes said, 



And from their graves call back the mighty dead. 



Then in Rome's Senate we will bid you stand, 



The Conscript Fathers ranged on either hand 



