82 ItYDAL LAKE. 



It will soon bring him to Rydal lake; and he 

 cannot but think the valley very lovely in the 

 summer afternoon. On the opposite side of the 

 lake is Loughrigg, with its terrace-walk distinctly 

 visible half-way up. The islands are wooded ; 

 and on one of them is a heronry ; and the grey 

 bird, with its long flapping wings, is most likely 

 visible, either in flight, or perched on a tree near 

 its nest, or fishing in the shallows. Nab Scar, the 

 blunt end of Fairfield, which overlooks the road 

 and the lake, is very fine, with its water-worn 

 channels, its woods and grey rocks. Nab Cottage, 

 the humble white house by the road-side, and on 

 the margin of the lake, is the place where Hartley 

 Coleridge lived and died. Those who knew the 

 lakes of old will remember the peculiar form and 

 countenance which used to haunt the roads between 

 Ambleside and Grasmere, — the eccentric-looking 

 being whom the drivers were wont to point out 

 as the son of the great Coleridge, and himself a 

 poet. He is more missed in the neighbourhood 

 than in the literary world : for he loved everybody, 

 and had many friends. His mournful weakness 

 was regarded with unusual forbearance; and there 

 was more love and pity than censure in the minds 

 of those who practically found how difficult it 

 was to help him. Those who knew him most 

 loved him best ; but he was sufficiently known afar 

 by his works to be an object of interest to strangers 

 who passed his home. He died in January, 1849. 

 In the distance, Ivy Cottage peeps out of the green ; 

 and further on Rydal Chapel rises out of the 

 foliage on the verge of the park. 



When the turn to the left, which leads up to 



