The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 5 (of 8)Wordsworth, William
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The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 5 (of 8)
Wordsworth, William
English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century
[Footnote GE: "After we quit his cottage, passing over a low ridge, we
descend into another vale, that of Little Langdale, towards the head
of which stands embowered, or partly shaded by yews and other trees,
something between a cottage and a mansion, or gentleman's house, such
as they once were in this country. This I convert into the parsonage,
and at the same time, and as by the waving of a magic wand, I turn the
comparatively confined vale of Langdale, its tarn, and the rude chapel
which once adorned the valley, into the stately and comparatively
spacious vale of Grasmere and its ancient parish church."--I. F.
The Fenwick note is not quite clear as to the relation of Hackett to
Blea Tarn Cottage. Dr. Cradock thinks that "Wordsworth meant that his
description of the cottage was borrowed from Hackett (which he frequently
visited), so far at least as the solitary clock, and the cottage stairs,
and the dark and low apartments were concerned."--ED.]
[Footnote GF: See the note on the previous page.--ED.]
[Footnote GG: Grasmere.--ED.]
[Footnote GH: Compare Lamb's remarks in reference to Harrow Church in a
letter to Wordsworth, August 14, 1814. See _Letters of Charles Lamb_,
edited by Canon Ainger, vol. i. p. 272.--ED.]
[Footnote GI: The details of this description apply in most particulars
to the Church at Grasmere, although some are probably borrowed from
Wordsworth's recollections of Hawkshead and of Bowness. The "naked
rafters intricately crossed," the "admonitory texts" inscribed on the
walls,
Each, in its ornamental scroll, enclosed,
the "oaken benches," the "heraldic shield" in the "altar-window," the
"faded hatchment," the "marble monuments" and "sepulchral stones" with
"emblems graven and foot-worn epitaphs,"--all are there. Grasmere Church
was "for duration built," as Wordsworth puts it; and, however ill adapted
to the wants of modern ceremonial, it is to be hoped that all that is
most characteristic of the old edifice will be preserved; and that--while
no building can retain its original form for ever--its renovation will
not destroy what remains of that "rude and antique majesty," which
Wordsworth tells us had, even in 1843, been partially impaired.--ED.]
[Footnote GJ: Compare, in _Hamlet_, act v. scene i. l. 64--
Hamlet.--Has this fellow no feeling of his business? he sings at grave-making.
Horatio.--Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.
Hamlet.--'Tis e'en so: the hand of little employment hath the daintier sense.--ED.]
[Footnote GK: An oak now grows in the field a little to the east of the
churchyard wall, which cannot, however, be that to which Wordsworth
refers. Possibly an oak grew at that time beside the wall above the
Rothay. The wall is still "moss-grown."--ED.]
[Footnote GL: See the footnote on the previous page.--ED.]
[Footnote GM: Compare _Paradise Lost_, book i. l. 157--
To be weak is miserable,
Doing or suffering. ED.
]
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