Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/472

388 388 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

of course, Prince Bladud will come back and marry the lady his father chose, who they say is as beautiful as the noon-day sun. Your health, Sir. God save the King.'

" The Prince remained to hear no more. He fled from the spot, and plunged into the thickest recesses of a neighbouring wood. On, on he wandered, night and day, beneath the blazing sun, and the cold pale moon ; through the dry heat of noon, and the damp cold of night; in the grey light of morn, and the red glare of eve. So heedless was he of time or object, that being bound for Athens, he wandered as far out of his way as Bath.

" There was no city where Bath stands, then. There was no vestige of human habitation, or sign of man's resort, to bear the name ; but there was the same noble country, the same broad expanse of hill and dale, the same beautiful channel stealing on, far away ; the same lofty mountains which, like the troubles of life, viewed at a distance, and partially obscured by the bright mist of its morning, lose their rugged- ness and asperity, and seem all ease and softness. Moved by the gentle beauty of the scene, the Prince sank upon the green turf, and bathed his swollen feet in his tears.

" * Oh !' said the unhappy Bladud, clasping his hands, and mourn- fully raising his eyes towards the sky, * would that my wanderings might end here ; would that these grateful tears with which I now mourn hope misplaced, and love despised, might flow in peace for ever V

" The wish was heard. It was in the time of the heathen deities, who used occasionally to take people at their words, with a promptness, in some cases extremely awkward. The ground opened beneath the Prince's feet ; he sunk into the chasm, and instantaneously it closed upon his head for ever, save where his hot tears welled up through the earth, and where they have continued to gush forth ever since.

" It is observable that, to this day, large numbers of elderly ladies and gentlemen who have been disappointed in procuring partners, and al- most as many young ones who are anxious to obtain them, repair an- nually to Bath to drink the waters, from which they derive much strength and comfort. This is most complimentary to the virtue o* Prince Bladud's tears, and strongly corroborative of the veracity of this legend."