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in the stern-sheets of the boat, with his eye 

 bent on the dark thunder-cloud which hides 

 the peak of Helvellyn, let him, amidst the 

 conflict of the elements, wonder and adore. 

 The sombre canopy extends to the south; 

 and now it approaches the lake, shrouding- 

 its waters as with a pall. See how the vivid 

 lightning shoots across its dark surface, 

 while, peal on peal, the thunder echoes among 

 the mountains, with occasionally a tremen- 

 dous crash, as if one of them were rent by 

 " heaven's artillery*' from summit to base, 

 and the smooth water heaves with a slight un- 

 dulating motion, as if its bosom labored to give 

 expression to a sigh. At length the storm 

 subsides. The hollow muttering of the 

 thunder is heard more faintly, and dies on 

 the distant hills ; a few large, heavy drops 

 of rain now descend ; a sudden gleam of 

 sunshine breaks through the gloom ; the 

 clouds disperse ; and the tops of the moun- 

 tains, and the blue sky appear. The swallow 

 now skims the lake in rapid flight; the 



