Mountains and Islands 



Curral on the one side, though little of it can 

 be seen for an intervening peak ; on the other 

 you may peer over a giant precipice into the 

 awful depths of the Metade valley, not so 

 supremely lovely as when seen from below, 

 but full of grandeur and mystery. No general 

 survey of the mountain scenery can be so easily 

 and satisfactorily obtained as this. 



It frequently happens that while a thin belt 

 of clouds hangs round the mountains and over 

 the sea at an elevation of three or four thousand 

 feet, the peaks themselves stand clear above it. 



" As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, 

 Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm, — 

 Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, 

 Eternal sunshine settles on its head." 



And then perchance the spectator may behold 

 a wonderful sight ; gazing out to sea, as far as 

 the eye can reach, he may look down upon the 

 sunlit upper surface of the cloud-belt, an ocean 

 of fleecy brilliance. Such a glorious spectacle 

 is no mean compensation for the loss of a view 

 of the lower hills and the coast. 



Few Englishmen are now found to confess 

 agreement with Lord Chesterfield that "all 

 those country sports, as they are called, are the 



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