Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/44

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the amiable spirit in which it was originallyplanned; and cloatlied philanthropy in all the charms of beautiful poetry:

" YE holy towers that shade the wave-worn steep, Long may ye rear your aged brows sublime, Though., hurrying silent by, relentless Time

Assail you, and the winter whirlwinds sweep!

For far from blazing Grandeur's crouded halls, Here Charity hath fix'd her chosen seat, Oft listning tearful when the wild winds beat

With hollow bodings round your ancient walls:

And Pity, at the dark and stormy hour

Of midnight, when the moon is hid on high.

Keeps her lone watch upon the topmost tow'r, And turns her ear to each expiring cry;

Blest if her aid some fainting wretch might save.,

And snatch him cold and speechless from the wave.'

Bowles's sonnets.

A boundless view of the sea presents itself to the east from Bamborough-Castle ; spotted with shoals and small islands, the little Cocquet to the south, crowned with its Gothic ruin, and the larger one of the Holy Island to the north, formerly the se- cure retreat of a party of monks, whose residence thus conferred upon it this venerable appellation. They have been succeeded by a colony of fisher- men, more actively and honourably employed in their hardy avocation, and in lookmg out tor and savins the lives of shipwrecked sailors.

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