Friday 3 December 2010

"Ten thousand Objects hurtle into view"

A puzzle arising from the previous post. The following inspiring lines, in whole or in part, are moderately widely quoted in mid-Victorian books, including the travel guides of Mackenzie Edward Charles Walcott.

"I'll see these Things!—They're rare and passing curious.—
But thus 'tis ever; what's within our ken,
Owl-like, we blink at, and direct our search
To farthest Inde in quest of Novelties;
Whilst here, at Home, upon our very thresholds,
Ten thousand Objects hurtle into view.
Of Int'rest wonderful.'

The above version is the first citation I can find, and dates from 1829, where it's just credited as "OLD PLAY" on the title page - here - of Edward Wedlake Brayley's Londiniana: or, Reminiscences of the British metropolis: including characteristic sketches, antiquarian, topographical, descriptive, and literary, Volume 4.

Any thoughts on what old play?

- Ray

1 comment:

  1. Must be a constellation of horny heroines paying tribute to Shakespeare: From the east to western Ind,/No jewel is like Rosalind.

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