330. =By forms unfashion’d.= They do not follow fixed or conventional lines of conduct. They are not artificial, but natural, in conduct. 331. =native hardiness.= Natural vigour. 332. They are true to what they conceive, or imagine, to be right, and they cannot be held in check. 333. Even the humblest peasant boasts that he examines these rights. 337. Such blessings would be too great if they were unmixed with some evils. =alloy.= The base metal which is sometimes mixed with precious metals. 342. The nominative absolute construction. 343. The natural ties uniting members of the family or the community are not strong. 345. =imprison’d.= Held in control by the law. 346. =round her shore.= Throughout the country. 347-8. Note the metaphor in these lines. The idea is that when the wheels of a carriage are subjected to too great friction they either refuse to turn, or else catch fire from the over-heating of the axle. So in society, this internal struggle and ferment (ll. 344-6) must result in a breakdown in the machinery of government or in political disturbances. _The Traveller_ was written about the time of the Wilkes’ agitations in Britain. 351. =Fictitious.= Artificial. 357. =noble stems.= The heads of noble families. 359. =sink.= A drain to carry off impure water. By speaking of England as a _sink_ he suggests that her ideals have become base and impure. =level avarice.= Greed for money among all classes of people. 369. =the changeful clime.= Of Britain. 370. Just as plants are pruned to make them better and stronger, so if the freedom of the British people is repressed when it tends to go to extremes, it will bring greater security. 373-6. He means to say that if any class of people is to be allowed too great privileges it will affect the rights of others. 381-8. The lines are subordinate, grammatically, to line 389. 381-2. These and the following lines express Goldsmith’s opinion of the Whig government then in power. 383. =a factious band.= A group of politicians seeking to further their personal interests by agitation and dissension. 385. There was nothing to restrain the judge from drawing up new laws for punishment of offences (penal statutes). =wanton.= Without restraint. 387-8. He means to say that money was extorted from people in the colonies, such as India, to corrupt the electors in Great Britain. =to purchase slaves.= To bribe the voters, to make them subservient. 391-2. Partly from motives of patriotism, partly from fear of the evils threatening my country, I appeal to the sovereign to protect it against these petty political tyrants. 393. =baleful.= Evil, pernicious. 395. The sovereign is here regarded as the fountain-head or source of honour. 396. =Gave wealth to sway.= Gave wealth the power to sway. 398. The wealth (useless ore) of the landowners was used to buy up the small holdings, and the labourers (useful sons) were turned adrift and forced to emigrate.