Wordsworth's Guide 1810, edn 1835
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page 105
doubt be said of the olive among the dry rocks of Attica, but I am speaking of it as found in gardens and vineyards in the North of Italy. At Bellagio, what Englishman can resist the temptation of substituting, in his fancy, for these formal treasures of cultivation, the natural variety of one of our parks - its pastured lawns, coverts of hawthorn, of wild-rose, and honeysuckle, and the majesty of forest trees? - such wild graces as the banks of Derwent-water shewd in the time of the Ratcliffes; and Gowbarrow Park, Lowther, and Rydal do at this day. As my object is to reconcile a Briton to the scenery of his own country, though not at the expense of truth, I am not afraid of asserting that in many points of view our LAKES, also, are much more interesting than those of the Alps; first, as is implied above, from being more happily proportioned to the other features of the landscape; and next, both as being infinitely more pellucid, and less subject to agitation from the winds.* Como, (which may |
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* It is remarkable that Como (as is probably the case
with other Italian Lakes) is more troubled by storms in
summer than in winter. Hence the propriety of the following
verses.
"Lari! margine ubique confragoso Nulli coelicolum negas sacellum Picto pariete saxeoque tecto; Hinc miracula multa navitarum Audis, nec placido refellis ore, Sed nova usque paras, Noto vel Euro AEstivas quatientibus cavernas, Vel surgentis ab Adduae cubili Caeco grandinis imbre provoluto." LANDOR. |
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