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Page 211:-
the strange broken outline of its top, like some gigantic
building demolished, and the stones that composed it flung across
each other in wild confusion. Just beyond it, opens one of the
sweetest landscapes that art ever attempted to imitate. The bosom
of the mountains spreading here into a broad bason discovers in
the midst Grasmere-water: its margin is hollowed into small bays,
with bold eminences; some of rock, some of turf, that half
conceal and vary the figure of the little lake they command; from
the shore a low promontory pushes itself far into the water, and
on it stands a white village, with the parish church rising in
the midst of it; hanging inclosures, corn-fields and meadows,
green as an emerald, with their trees, and hedges, and cattle,
fill up the whole space from the edge of the water; and just
opposite to you is a large farm house, at the bottom of a deep
smooth lawn, embosomed in old woods, which climb half way up the
mountains' sides, and discover above them a broken line of crags
that crown the scene. Not a single red tile, no gentleman's
flaring house, or garden walls, break in upon the repose of this
little unsuspected paradise; but all its peace, rusticity, and
happy poverty, in its neatest, most becoming attire.
The road here winds over Grasmere-hill, whose rocks soon conceal
the water from your sight; yet it is continued along behind them,
and contracting itself to a river, communicates with Rydal-water,
another small lake, but of inferior size and beauty: it seems
shallow too, for large patches of reeds appear pretty far within.
Into this vale the road descends. On the opposite banks large and
ancient woods mount up to the hill; and just to the left of our
way, stands Rydal-hall, the family seat of Sir Michael le
Fleming, a large old-fashioned fabric, rounded with wood. Sir
Michael is now on his travels, and all this timber, far and wide,
belongs to him. Near the house rises a huge crag, called
Rydal-head, which is said to command a full view of Windermere,
and I doubt it not;
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