--Published 1827
"From the top of the hill a most impressive scene opened upon our
view,--a ruined Castle on an Island (for an Island the flood had made
it) [A] at some distance from the shore, backed by a Cove of the
Mountain Cruachan, down which came a foaming stream.
"From the top of the hill a most impressive scene opened upon our
view,--a ruined Castle on an Island (for an Island the flood had made
it) [A] at some distance from the shore, backed by a Cove of the
Mountain Cruachan, down which came a foaming stream.
William Wordsworth
.
What shall I say in apology for your Journal, which is now locked
up with my manuscripts at Grasmere. As I could not go over to your
part of the country myself, my intention was to have taken it with me
to Kendal . . . to be carefully transmitted to you; unluckily, most
unluckily, in the hurry of departure, I forgot it, together with two
of my own manuscripts which were along with it; and I am afraid you
will be standing in great need of it. . . . If you do not want it, it is
in a place where it can take no injury, and I may have the pleasure of
delivering it to you myself in the spring. . . . "
Ed.
* * * * *
ADDRESS TO KILCHURN CASTLE
UPON LOCH AWE
Begun 1803.
--Published 1827
"From the top of the hill a most impressive scene opened upon our
view,--a ruined Castle on an Island (for an Island the flood had made
it) [A] at some distance from the shore, backed by a Cove of the
Mountain Cruachan, down which came a foaming stream. The Castle
occupied every foot of the Island that was visible to us, appearing to
rise out of the Water,--mists rested upon the mountain side, with
spots of sunshine; there was a mild desolation in the low-grounds, a
solemn grandeur in the mountains, and the Castle was wild, yet
stately--not dismantled of Turrets--nor the walls broken down, though
obviously a ruin. "
'Extract from the Journal of my Companion. '--W. W. 1827.
[The first three lines were thrown off at the moment I first caught
sight of the Ruin, from a small eminence by the wayside; the rest was
added many years after. --I. F. ]
Child of loud-throated War! the mountain Stream
Roars in thy hearing; but thy hour of rest
Is come, and thou art silent in thy age;
Save when the wind sweeps by and sounds are caught
Ambiguous, neither wholly thine nor theirs. 5
Oh! there is life that breathes not; Powers there are
That touch each other to the quick in modes
Which the gross world no sense hath to perceive,
No soul to dream of. What art Thou, from care
Cast off--abandoned by thy rugged Sire, 10
Nor by soft Peace adopted; though, in place
And in dimension, such that thou might'st seem
But a mere footstool to yon sovereign Lord,
Huge Cruachan, (a thing that meaner hills
Might crush, nor know that it had suffered harm;) 15
Yet he, not loth, in favour of thy claims
To reverence, suspends his own; submitting
All that the God of Nature hath conferred,
All that he holds [1] in common with the stars,
To the memorial majesty of Time 20
Impersonated in thy calm decay!
Take, then, thy seat, Vicegerent unreproved!
Now, while a farewell gleam of evening light
Is fondly lingering on thy shattered front,
Do thou, in turn, be paramount; and rule 25
Over the pomp and beauty of a scene
Whose mountains, torrents, lake, and woods, unite
To pay thee homage; and with these are joined,
In willing admiration and respect,
Two Hearts, which in thy presence might be called 30
Youthful as Spring.
up with my manuscripts at Grasmere. As I could not go over to your
part of the country myself, my intention was to have taken it with me
to Kendal . . . to be carefully transmitted to you; unluckily, most
unluckily, in the hurry of departure, I forgot it, together with two
of my own manuscripts which were along with it; and I am afraid you
will be standing in great need of it. . . . If you do not want it, it is
in a place where it can take no injury, and I may have the pleasure of
delivering it to you myself in the spring. . . . "
Ed.
* * * * *
ADDRESS TO KILCHURN CASTLE
UPON LOCH AWE
Begun 1803.
--Published 1827
"From the top of the hill a most impressive scene opened upon our
view,--a ruined Castle on an Island (for an Island the flood had made
it) [A] at some distance from the shore, backed by a Cove of the
Mountain Cruachan, down which came a foaming stream. The Castle
occupied every foot of the Island that was visible to us, appearing to
rise out of the Water,--mists rested upon the mountain side, with
spots of sunshine; there was a mild desolation in the low-grounds, a
solemn grandeur in the mountains, and the Castle was wild, yet
stately--not dismantled of Turrets--nor the walls broken down, though
obviously a ruin. "
'Extract from the Journal of my Companion. '--W. W. 1827.
[The first three lines were thrown off at the moment I first caught
sight of the Ruin, from a small eminence by the wayside; the rest was
added many years after. --I. F. ]
Child of loud-throated War! the mountain Stream
Roars in thy hearing; but thy hour of rest
Is come, and thou art silent in thy age;
Save when the wind sweeps by and sounds are caught
Ambiguous, neither wholly thine nor theirs. 5
Oh! there is life that breathes not; Powers there are
That touch each other to the quick in modes
Which the gross world no sense hath to perceive,
No soul to dream of. What art Thou, from care
Cast off--abandoned by thy rugged Sire, 10
Nor by soft Peace adopted; though, in place
And in dimension, such that thou might'st seem
But a mere footstool to yon sovereign Lord,
Huge Cruachan, (a thing that meaner hills
Might crush, nor know that it had suffered harm;) 15
Yet he, not loth, in favour of thy claims
To reverence, suspends his own; submitting
All that the God of Nature hath conferred,
All that he holds [1] in common with the stars,
To the memorial majesty of Time 20
Impersonated in thy calm decay!
Take, then, thy seat, Vicegerent unreproved!
Now, while a farewell gleam of evening light
Is fondly lingering on thy shattered front,
Do thou, in turn, be paramount; and rule 25
Over the pomp and beauty of a scene
Whose mountains, torrents, lake, and woods, unite
To pay thee homage; and with these are joined,
In willing admiration and respect,
Two Hearts, which in thy presence might be called 30
Youthful as Spring.
