FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  
Dec. 28, 1800), the last line is 'With all its poplars, we have named from you.' Of the circular pool beneath this fall it may be said, as Wordsworth describes it, that '... both flocks and herds might drink On its firm margin, even as from a well;' and a "small slip of lawn" might easily have existed there in his time. We cannot, however, be confident as to the locality, and I add the opinion of several, whose judgment may be deferred to. Dr. Cradock writes: "As to Mary Hutchinson's pool, I think that it was not on the beck anywhere, but some detached little pool, far up the hill, to the eastwards of the Hall, in 'the woods.' The description does not well suit any part of Rydal beck; and no spot thereon could long 'remain unknown,' as the brook was until lately much haunted by anglers." My difficulty as to a site "far up the hill" is, that it must have been a pool of some size, if "both flocks and herds might drink" all round it; and there is no stream, scarce even a rill that joins Rydal beck on the right, all the way up from its junction with the Rothay. The late Mr. Hull of Rydal Cottage, wrote: "Although closely acquainted with every nook about Rydal Park, I have never been able to discover any spot corresponding to that described in Wordsworth's lines to M. H. It is possible, however, that the 'small bed of water' may have been a temporary rain pool, such as sometimes lodges in the hollows on the mountain-slope after heavy rain." Mr. F. M. Jones, the agent of the Rydal property, writes: "I do not know of any pool of water in the Upper Rydal Park. There are some pools up the river, 'Mirror Pool' among them; but I hardly think there can ever have been 'beech-trees' growing near them." There are many difficulties, and the place cannot now be identified. Wordsworth's own wish will doubtless be realised, 'The travellers know it not, and 'twill remain Unknown to them.' Ed. * * * * * THE WATERFALL AND THE EGLANTINE Composed 1800.--Published 1800 [Suggested nearer to Grasmere, in the same mountain track as that referred to in the following note. The Eglantine remained many years afterwards, but is now gone.--I.F.] Included among the "Poems of the Fancy."--Ed. I "Begone, thou fond presumptuous Elf," Exclaimed an angry Voice, [1] "Nor dare to thrust thy foolish
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Wordsworth

 

writes

 

remain

 
mountain
 
flocks
 

property

 
Exclaimed
 

Mirror

 

presumptuous

 

thrust


temporary
 

foolish

 

lodges

 

hollows

 

referred

 
Unknown
 

remained

 

Eglantine

 

WATERFALL

 
nearer

Grasmere

 
Suggested
 

Published

 

EGLANTINE

 

Composed

 

difficulties

 

growing

 
Begone
 

identified

 

realised


travellers

 

doubtless

 

Included

 

opinion

 

judgment

 

locality

 

confident

 

deferred

 

detached

 

eastwards


Hutchinson

 

Cradock

 

existed

 

easily

 

poplars

 

circular

 
beneath
 

margin

 

describes

 

description