. These sign-posts have the
appearance of gates, or gateways, for which I at first took them, but the
whole apparatus, unnecessarily large as it seems to be, is intended for
nothing more than to tell the inquisitive traveller that there is an
inn." It marks in some degree the territorial prejudices of the English
people that the principal inn of a hamlet usually "hangs out" the crest
of the family, if it be indeed an ancient house, at the neighbouring hall
or great house, whether it be a Swan, a Griffin, a St. George, or other
heraldic or historic emblem or hero.

{87} We have availed ourselves of Mr. Cary's skilful translation of
Brunetto's description of his journey from Florence to Valladolid,
whither he had been sent on an embassy by the Guelph party:--"Un
scolaio--Sur un muletto baio," etc.

{94a} It is perhaps scarcely necessary to observe how much indebted our
great poets have been to the early travellers. Milton had perhaps this
passage in his memory when he wrote the speech of the Lady in 'Comus':--

"A thousand fantasies
Begin to throng into my memory,
Of calling shapes, and beck'ning shadows dire,
And aery tongues, that syllable men's names
On sands and shores and desert wildernesses."

{94b} "The isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices,
That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again."--_Tempest_, act iii. sc. 2.

{104} Among the most satisfactory of such works, we would especially
mention 'A History of the English Railway,' by John Francis, in two
volumes, 8vo, to which our own sketch is under great obligations.

{107} The staff of an ancient _Curator Viarum_ resembled very nearly the
accompaniments of a modern Railway contractor. "Caius Gracchus," says
Plutarch, "was appointed supreme director for making roads, etc. The
people were charmed to see him followed by such numbers of architects,
artificers, ambassadors, and magistrates: and he applied to the whole
with as much activity, and despatched it with as much ease, as if there
had been only one thing for him to attend to: insomuch that they who both
hated and feared the man were struck with his amazing industry, and the
celerity of his operations."

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD ROADS AND NEW ROADS***

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