The Argosy — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

132 On the Wye. at the castle, and continued on their way. If it be true that this is due to the influence of the boatmen, the sooner the mistake is rectified the better. Many people are easily persuaded ; are too ready to trust to the opinions of others rather than exercise their own. _It is impossible to exaggerate the loss to those who pass Goodrich Castle, and neglect to visit this time-worn, time-honoured ruin. It dates back to the days of the Saxons, and beneath its walls we feel ourselves in the midst of past ages. Wordsworth, alluding to his well-known poem, “ We are Seven,” observes : “ The little girl, who is the heroine, I met within the area of Goodrich Castle in the year 1793.” Later on he continues: “In the spring of 1841, I re-visited Goodrich Castle, not having seen that part of the Wye since I met the little girl there in 1793. The ruin, from its.position and features, is a most impressive object. I could not but deeply regret that its solemnity was impaired by a fantastic new castle, set up on a projection of the same ridge, as if to show how far modern art can go in surpassing all that can be done by antiquity and nature, with their united graces, remembrances, and associations.” Re-entering our boat, we were soon gliding swiftly down the river again towards Monmouth. To describe the progress step by step would be impossible in the limited space at command. Suffice it to say that the beauty of the scene was constant and uninterrupted ; that the interest never flagged ; that each turn, each bend of the river dis- closed its own particular and individual feature whereby to mark it in memory’s storehouse. For a considerable distance the scenery was calm and sylvan; but as we approached towards Symond’s Yat the banks changed aspect. They became for a time more wild and rugged, the Coldwell Rocks presenting a towering and magnificent surface to the river. At Symond’s Yat the cliffs are 600 feet above the level of the sea. Here we landed. The distance by the river from this point to the new weir is from four to five miles ; whilst, walking, it is scarcely 600 yards. The boat now pursued its journey, relieved of a portion of its freight, and we commenced the ascent of Symond’s Yat. All who possibly can should adopt this course. In the first place, it is a great help to the rowers; and secondly, the view from the summit of the rock is so marvellous that none should miss it. Here we gazed down upon the river, which ran between hills richly clothed with trees to their very summit. The eye was arrested by the amazing wealth of verdure displayed. In all directions, far and near, the capricious and picturesque windings of the river could be traced. In the distance, but one amidst a thousand points and objects of interest, Goodrich Castle reared its head, whence, an hour or two ago, we had gazed down upon a scene less varied, but almost as impressive as this. We scarcely knew how to leave it and descend the other side of the hill. But there, at last, were the boatmen coming down the stream, and our journey was not yet over. So again we found ourselves comicbooks.com ‘