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LINE 12 The river glideth at his own sweet will: Whereas line 11 introduces the concept of calm, line 12 actually embodies it. In doing so, it allows the speaker to assess his or her surroundings and linger for one last moment on the pretty scene before launching into the poem’s final lines. Line 11 depicts the city and nature cooperating to the best of their abilities. The River Thames does not course, rush, run, flow, or speed; it “glideth” (an archaic version of “glide”). It moves at a peaceful, leisurely pace. Its easy movement is emphasized by the word itself. “Glideth,” with its round g, liquid l, and almost sibilant th, imitates the easy nature of the river. The speaker also observes agency in the river. Not only does it glide, but it does so “at his own sweet will.” In early-19thcentury London, which saw the working class demanding more rights, the personifified river appears almost like a citizen who, if not legally allowed to vote, is certainly capable of making his “own” judgments. This idea of will, however, points to something more immediate. Like line 8 with its “smokeless air,” line 12 describes a situation that cannot last. For the moment, the river appears to move “at his own sweet will,” but the speaker likely knows that upstream and downstream the factories and slaughterhouses are probably already dirtying the waters, subjecting the river to their will. In discussing individual will, the speaker may also be thinking of him- or herself. Since the title, this is the first time the poem returns to the bridge, or close to it, anyway. The river glides under and ahead of the speaker. In its soothing imagery, its liquid sounds (“river,” “glideth,” “will”), and unbroken line, the image of the river represents a peaceful breath that contrasts with the poem’s explosive final lines.