Page:The Prose Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley (Volume 2).djvu/168

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HOLLAND.




Tired by the slow pace of the diligence, we resolved to post the remainder of the way. We had now, however, left Germany, and travelled at about the same rate as an English post-chaise. The country was entirely flat, and the roads so sandy, that the horses proceeded with diffculty. The only ornaments of this country are the turf fortifications that surround the towns. At Nimeguen we passed the flying bridge, mentioned in the letters of Lady Mary[1] Montague. We had intended to travel all night, but at Triel, where we arrived 7 Sept., 1814.at about ten o'clock, we were assured that no post-boy was to be found who would proceed at so late an hour, on account of the robbers who infested the roads. This was an obvious imposition; but as we could procure neither horses nor driver, we were obliged to sleep here.

During the whole of the following day the road lay

  1. Mrs. Shelley inserts Wortley in the Essays &c.