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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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