"And oft I thought (my fancy was so strong) That I, at last, a resting-place had found; 'Here will I dwell,' said I, 'my whole life long, [41] Roaming the illimitable waters round; Here will I live, of all but heaven disowned, 365 And end my days upon the peaceful flood.'--[42] To break my dream the vessel reached its bound; And homeless near a thousand homes I stood, And near a thousand tables pined and wanted food. XLII "No help I sought; in sorrow turned adrift, 370 Was hopeless, as if cast on some bare rock; [43] Nor morsel to my mouth that day did lift, Nor raised [44] my hand at any door to knock. I lay where, with his drowsy mates, the cock From the cross-timber of an out-house hung: 375 Dismally [45] tolled, that night, the city clock! At morn my sick heart hunger scarcely stung, Nor to the beggar's language could I fit [46] my tongue. XLIII "So passed a second day; and, when the third Was come, I tried in vain the crowd's resort. [47] 380 --In deep despair, by frightful wishes stirred, Near the sea-side I reached a ruined fort; There, pains which nature could no more support, With blindness linked, did on my vitals fall; And, after many interruptions short [48] 385 Of hideous sense, I sank, [49] nor step could crawl: Unsought for was the help that did my life recal. [50] XLIV "Borne to a hospital, I lay with brain Drowsy and weak, and shattered memory; [51] I heard my neighbours in their beds complain 390 Of many things which never troubled me-- Of feet still bustling round with busy glee, Of looks where common kindness had no part, Of service done with cold formality, [52] Fretting the fever round the languid heart, 395 And groans which, as they said, might [53] make a dead man start. XLV "These things just served to stir the slumbering [54] sense, Nor pain nor pity in my bosom raised. With strength did memory return; [55] and, thence Dismissed, again on open day I gazed, 400 At houses, men, and common light, amazed. The lanes I sought, and, as the sun retired, Came where beneath the trees a faggot blazed; The travellers [56] saw me weep, my fate inquired, And gave me food--and rest, more welcome, more desired. 405 [57] XLVI "Rough potters seemed they, trading soberly With panniered asses driven from door to door; But life of happier sort set forth to me, [58] And other joys my fancy to allure-- The bag-pipe dinning on the midnight moor 410 In barn uplighted; and companions boon, Well met from far with revelry secure Among the forest glades, while jocund June [59] Rolled fast along the sky his warm and genial moon. XLVII