72 THfc PEAK OF DERBVSniRE. 
winter months. Little tufts of shrubs and underwood foW 
islands in miniature within its bed, which enlarge and 
the other objects. The scenery of this Dale is distiuguisljf^ 
from almost every other in the United Kingdoms, by 
rugged, dissimilar, and frequently grotesque and fanf’^ 
appearance of the rocks. To employ the words of a 13 
tourist, “ It IS, perhaps, on the whole, one of the 
pleasing sceneries of the kind any where to be met 
It has .sometliing peculiarly characteristic. Its detacbe 
perpendicular rocks stamp it with an image entirely its o«' ^ 
aid for that reason it affords the greater pleasure. For n 
in scenery as in life. We are most struck with tlie peC“ 
liarityof an original character, provided there be noth'*' 
oftensivc in it.” 
thor’s house. 
tVlicre Hamps and Manifold, tlieir cliffs among, 
Encli in his flinty cliannci wind* along. 
With lucid lines' tlie dusky moor divides, 
Hurrying to iutt-rmix their sister tides. 
Where still their silver-bosom'd nymphs abhor 
The hlood-sniear’d mansion of gigantic Thor— 
Erst fires volcanic in the marble womb 
Of cloud-vvrapp'd Wiietton rais'd the nias.sy dome 
Kocks rear'd on rocks, in huge disjointed piles, 
Eorm the tall tnrrets, and the lengthen'd aisles; 
Broad pond'rous piers sustain the roof, and wide 
Branch the va.st lainbotv ribs from .side to side. 
B'hilc from above descends, in milky streams, 
One scanty pencil of illusive beams. 
Suspended crags, and gaping gulfs illumes. 
And gilds the horrors of the deepen’d glooms, 
—Here oft the > aiads, as they chance to stray 
Near the dread Fane, on Thor’s returning day, 
.Siiw from red altars streams of guiltless blood, 
Stain their green reed-beds, and pollute their flood ; 
Heard dying babes in wicker prisons wail. 
And .shrieks of matrons tin ill the affrighted gale; 
While from dark cave.s infernal echoes mock. 
And fiends triumphant shout from cv’ry rock! 
Dab'’*' 
T111.S spacious cavern is situated about two miles 3 ^ 
Dove Dale, near the village of Whetton ; and 
savs that the Druids liere offered human sacrifices, 
in wicker idols, lo Tltor, tiie principal, deity of the &* 
