button to main menu  Otley's Guide 1823 (8th edn 1849)

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Page 211:-
At early dawn, or rather when the air
Glimmers with fading light, and shadowy Eve
Is busiest to confer and to bereave,
Then, pensive votary! let they feet repair
To Gordale-chasm, terrific as the lair
Where the young lions crouch:- for so, by leave
Of the propitious hour, thou may'st perceive
The local Deity, with oozy hair
And mineral crown, beside his jagged urn,
Recumbent: Him thou may'st behold, who hides
His lineaments by day, yet there presides,
Teaching the docile waters how to turn;
Or, if need be, impediment to spurn,
And force their passage to the salt-sea tides!
WORDSWORTH
Leaving Gordale, we follow the course of the stream for about half a mile, when we are shewn a very pretty cascade, which falls a height of about 30 feet, close by a natural cavity in the rock, called 'Janet's Cave,' We then visit the River Head, a series of powerful springs, and at length arrive at Kirkby Malham, where there is a fine old church.
The preceeding are the chief curiosities in the Districts of Lonsdale and Ewcross: although the tourist may and will find many others of less note, perhaps as beautiful. Our object, however, has been merely to direct him to the leading features of the landscape, leaving him to find out the rest by his own tact and taste. Having derived much pleasure and profit from our visits to these scenes, we should wish all men to participate with us the feelings which spring from a review of the beauties and wonder of Creation -
'And look from Nature up to Nature's God.'
H.H.D.
We regret that the Author of the preceeding article, in consequence of his now residing at a distance, has not had an opportunity of revising it, and of sanctioning, or dissenting from, the introduction of some trifling additions which have been made in this edition.
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