42. “Never did sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendor, valley, rock, or hill;

Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:

Dear God! The very houses seem asleep;

all that mighty heart is lying still!”

(William Wordsworth’s sonnet: “Composed upon Westminster Bridge” September 3, 1802)

Questions:

A. What does the word “glideth” in the fourth line mean?

B. What kind of figure of speech is used by wordsworth to describe the “river”?

C. What idea does the fourth line express?