Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/28

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Memoirs of

ſo every one look'd on himſelf, and his Family, as in the utmoſt Danger: were it poſſible to repreſent thoſe Times exactly to thoſe that did not ſee them, and give the Reader due Ideas of the Horror that every where preſented it ſelf, it muſt make juſt Impreſſions upon their Minds, and fill them with Surprize. London might well be ſaid to be all in Tears; the Mourners did not go about the Streets indeed, for no Body put on black, or made a formal Dreſs of Mourning for their neareſt Friends; but the Voice of Mourning was truly heard in the Streets; the ſhriecks of Women and Children at the Windows, and Doors of their Houſes, where their deareſt Relations were, pehaps dying, or juſt dead, were ſo frequent to be heard, as we paſſed the Streets, that it was enough to pierce the ſtouteſt Heart in the World, to hear them. Tears and Lamentations were ſeen almoſt in every Houſe, eſpecially in the firſt Part of the Viſitation; for towards the latter End, Mens Hearts were hardned, and Death was ſo always before their Eyes, that they did not ſo much concern themſelves for the Loſs of their Friends, expecting, that themſelves ſhould be ſummoned the next Hour.

Buſineſs led me out ſometimes to the other End of the Town, even when the Sickneſs was chiefly there; and as the thing was new to me, as well as to every Body elſe, it was a moſt ſurpriſing thing, to ſee thoſe Streets, which were uſally ſo thronged, now grown deſolate, and ſo few People to be ſeen in them, that if I had been a Stranger, and at a Loſs for my Way, I might ſometimes have gone the Length of a whole Street, I mean of the by-Streets, and ſee no Body to direct me, except Watchmen, ſet at the Doors of ſuch Houſes as were ſhut up; of which I ſhall ſpeak preſently.

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