Only for a moment, though; for when we drop
our eyes to the street below us, those are our own townsfolk,
well-remembered faces, that throng every doorstep and fill the
overflowing pavements and swarming roadway. Yes, they are our own
townsfolk, and they are taking care to let us know it--such a welcome
they have made ready for us.
We hardly know how to describe with the epic dignity which it merits the
act by which they testified their joy at our return. We who saw the
sight were reminded of an incident in the AEneid--
Instar montis equum divina Palladis arte
Aedificant, sectaque intexunt abiete costas;
Votum pro reditu simulant.
* * * * *
Pueri circum innuptaeque puellae
Sacra canuut, funemque manu contingere gaudent.
But the ill-starred folk of Troy could not have shown more enthusiasm in
haling within their walls the fatal wooden horse, than did the men and
boys of Uppingham, who harnessed themselves, some four-score of them, to
that guileless structure, which, though indeed it has some other name, we
will call at present our triumphal car.
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