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page 25
or six cottages are reflected in its peaceful bosom; rocky
and barren steeps rise up above the hanging enclosures; and
the solemn pikes of Langdale overlook, from a distance, the
low cultivated ridge of land that forms the northern
boundary of this small, quiet, and fertile domain. The
mountain Tarns can only be recommended to the notice
of the inquisitive traveller who has time to spare. They are
difficult of access and naked; yet some of them are, in
their permanent forms, very grand; and there are accidents
of things which would make the meanest of them interesting.
At all events, one of these pools is an acceptable sight to
the mountain wanderer; not merely as an incident that
diversifies the prospect, but as forming in his mind a
centre or conspicuous point to which objects, otherwise
disconnected or insubordinated, may be referred. Some few
have a varied outline, with bold heath-clad promontories;
and, as they mostly lie at the foot of a steep precipice,
the water where the sun is not shining upon it, appears
black and sullen; and, round the margin, huge stones and
masses of rock are scattered; some defying conjecture as to
the means by which they came thither; and others obviously
fallen from on high - the contribution of ages! A not
unpleasing sadness is induced by this perplexity, and these
images of decay; while the prospect of a body of pure water
unattended with groves and other cheerful rural images by
which fresh water is usually
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