noon
The stars faded , and the grey morning cast a dim veil over the silver horns of the waning moon -- the sun rose broad and red from the sea , as we walked over the sands to Calais . Our first care was to procure horses , and although wearied by our night of watching and toil , some of our party immediately went in quest of these in the wide fields of the unenclosed and now barren plain round Calais . We divided ourselves , like seamen , into watches , and some reposed , while others prepared the morning 's repast . Our foragers returned at noon with only six horses -- on these , Adrian and I , and four others , proceeded on our journey towards the great city , which its inhabitants had fondly named the capital of the civilized world . Our horses had become , through their long holiday , almost wild , and we crossed the plain round Calais with impetuous speed . From the height near Boulogne , I turned again to look on England ; nature had cast a misty pall over her , her cliff was hidden -- there was spread the watery barrier that divided us , never again to be crossed ; she lay on the ocean plain , In the great pool a swan 's nest . Ruined the nest , alas !