of ice one upon another in those parts of the Thames; it was held the best and the safest travelling into our new found Freeze-Land by those creeks.
Coun. But this onset prospering and they coming off well heartened others to come on, Sir, did it not?
Cit. No soldiers more desperate in a skirmish. Speak it, father, from my mouth for an assured truth, that there was as it were an artificial bridge of ice reaching from one side of the river to the other, upon which infinite numbers of people passed to and fro, jostling one another in crowds: while the current of the water ran in sight, more than half the breadth of the Thames, on either side of that icy bridge; the bridge itself being not above five yards broad, if so much.
Coun. It was strange! But it was said of you Londoners that when you strive to be kind, you turn into prodigals; when you are cowards, you are arrant cowards; and when you are bold, you are too desperately venturous.
Cit. It appears so by this frost: for no danger could nip their bloods with fear; but over some went in shoals, when thousands stood gazing on and swore they would not follow their steps in that watery wilderness for many thousands of pounds. Nay, even many of those that were the discoverers and did first venture over, would never undertake the second voyage: but protested when they were half way they would have lost much to have been again on shore.
Coun. It is most likely: for perils that are not common make men foolhardy; but being once tasted, they tremble to come near them.
What numbers of people walked on the Thames. Cit. You say true, father: but the fear of this shipwreck and of these rocks grew every day less and less. As the ice increased in hardness, so men's hearts increased in hardiness: so that at the length—the frost knitting all his sinews together; and the inconstant water by that means, being of a floating element, changed into a firm ground as it were—both men, women, and children walked over and up and down in such companies; that, I verily believe and I dare almost swear it, the one half, if not three parts of the people in the city have been seen going on the Thames. The river showed not now, neither shows it yet, like a river, but like a field; where archers shoot at pricks, [targets] while others play at football. It is a place of mastery,
