THE PEAK IN THE DAYS OF QUEEN ANNE. 21 7 



candles, and conduct you thro 1 a little door into a narrow 

 passage which is so low that you are obliged to creep on all 

 four, while you are squeezed to pieces by the stones which 

 defend the contracted orifice. When you are entered about 

 eight yards the hollow suffers you to rise, and view the beauty 

 of the arched Roof above, which shines as if twas beset with 

 Stars. But when we removed our Eyes downwards, and con- 

 templated the Dangers before us, we had scarce Courage enough 

 to Satisfy our curiosity in the Subterranean Scrutiny : the 

 extensive Womb of the Cave was pregnant of prodigious uneven 

 Rocks, which we were forced to climb : and notwithstanding 

 all the care of our female guides the stones were so slippery 

 and pointed that Death attended every step, to plunge us into 

 a Black River, which runs with dreadful groanings just under 

 us. In our way we were obliged to suspend our fears while 

 we diverted ourselves with severall stones resembling men, 

 Lions, dogs, Haycocks and Lanthorns, which owe their being 

 to mere chance. In the Roof we saw a stone which they call 

 the Flitch of Bacon, because tis somewhat like it in shape. 

 This with the things mentioned before are caused by the Petri- 

 fying Quality of the place. For the water sliding down in 

 drops changes its aqueous Substance and incrustates into stone. 

 " Having taken leave of those Rarities we pursued our search 

 thro' the rugged windings of the Cave, till at last on the left 

 hand we saw a large pillar of an odd Configuration which 

 taking Root on the solid below ascends and supports the starry 

 Roof. The admirable contexture of this pillar is excellently 

 described by Cotton in these words — 



" Before your eyes 



You see a great transparent pillar rise 



Of the same shining matter with ye rest, 



But such a one as Nature does contest 



(Tho' working in ye Dark) in this brave piece 



With all the Obelisks of Ancient Greece. 



For all the art ye Chizel could apply 



Ne'er wrought such curious folds of drapery 



Of this the figure is, as men should croud 



A vast colossus in a marble shroud : 



