Chapter XVIII: Part IV

“A dream, a dream, a pleasant dream.
I stood at Westminster,
And saw a bran-new, span-new bridge
Bestride a river clear.

“The wave it was as crystal bright,
You saw white sand below,
And flounders, gudgeon, tench, and dace,
Shot, flitting, to and fro.

“The jolly salmon heaved his jowl,
The whitebait glanced like gems;
In short, all kinds of finny fowl
Were swimming in the Thames.

“On either bank a mighty sewer
Received what London gave,
And bore it to the Kentish farm,
Or to the ocean wave.

“And terraced gardens there displayed
Green leaves and arbours fair,
And rosy children laughed and sniff’d
The river’s fragrant air.

“And artisans (their labour done)
With pots, and pipes, and wives,
Sat by the stream, and call’d the sight
The pleasure of their lives.

“And thus outspoke a gentle voice――
A voice of cheer and beauty:
‘See, London’s Mayor and Aldermen
At length have done their duty.’”