button to main menu  Wordsworth's Guide 1810, edn 1835

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page 21

Hundreds of curves and circlets, to and fro,
Upward and downward, progress intricate
Yet unperplex'd, as if one spirit swayed
Their indefatigable flight. - 'Tis done -
Ten times, or more, I fancied it had ceased;
But lo! the vanish'd company again
Ascending; - they approach - I hear their wings
Faint, faint, at first, and then an eager sound
Past in a moment - and as faint again!
They tempt the sun to sport amid their plumes;
They tempt the water or the gleaming ice,
To shew them a fair image; - 'tis themselves,
Their own fair forms, upon the glimmering plain,
Painted more soft and fair as they descend
Almost to touch; - then up again aloft,
Up with a sally and a flash of speed,
As if they scorn'd both resting-place and rest!
  islands
The ISLANDS, dispersed among these lakes, are neither so numerous nor so beautiful as might be expected from the account that has been given of the manner in which the level areas of the vales are so frequently diversified by rocks, hills, and hillocks, scattered over them; nor are they ornamented (as are several of the lakes in Scotland and Ireland) by the remains of castles or other places of defence; nor with the still more interesting ruins of religious edifices. Every one must regret that scarcely a vestige is left of the Oratory, consecrated to the Virgin, which stood upon Chapel-Holm in Windermere, and that the Chauntry has disappeared, where mass used to be sung, upon St. Herbert's Island, Derwent-water. The islands of the last mentioned lake are neither fortunately placed
gazetteer links
button -- "Chapel Holm" -- St Mary's chapel
button -- "Chapel Holm" -- Lady Holme
button -- "St Herbert's Hermitage" -- St Herbert's Cell
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