Note 39 — THE BOROUGH.
Reading edition
Note 1, page 296, lines 55 and 56.
In three short hours shall thy presuming hand
Th' effect of three slow centuries command?
If it should be objected, that centuries are not slower than hours, because the speed of time must be uniform, I would answer, that I understand so much, and mean that they are slower in no other sense, than because they are not finished so soon.