My Visit to Sterling Castle

     

Entrance to the castle

Sterling Castle

  In Scotland we find not only wilderness with green grass-draped valleys and streams but also many historic castles, abbeys and mansions of feudal lords. Sterling Castle is well-known not only for its strategic location upon a 250 feet-high rocky crag but also as a place where  so many Scottish monarchs and lords fought bravely to defend this castle from the onslaught of the English armed forces. This castle has a long history dating from 10th and 11th centuries. The name "Sterling" is derived from a Scottish word  which means the place of strife. The first royal castle was built here in 11th century. . It was originally made of wood. But later in 13th  century it was re-built in stone. Most of the surviving structures of this castle were built by the Stewart kings-- James IV, James V, and James VI between 1490 and 1600. A few structures of the 14th century still remain undamaged by frequent assaults during the wars of Scottish independence. The architecture reveals a blend of English, French and German styles of construction.

The Old Building

Chapel Royal

 In 1110 King Alexander I dedicated a chapel at this place. He died in 1124. His successor David I made this castle an important place.William I handed over this castle to Richard I under the treaty of Falaise in 1174, but later the castle was given back by the English king in 1189. William I stayed here till his death in 1214. Alexander III laid out the New Deer Park in 1260s. He died in 1286. The English king Edward I occupied this castle in 1296. Since then nearly eight times wars were fought between the English and Scottish forces to occupy this fort. In 1297 William Wallace fought and won in the battle of Sterling Bridge. But the castle was again captured by the English in 1298. At last Robert Bruce defeated the English army in 1314 and secured Scottish independence.

James IV stayed in a simple old building in 1490s but later extended the western side of the building after he married Margaret, daughter of Henry VII in 1503. James IV (who ruled between 1488 and 1513) undertook the construction of the Great Hall and renovated the Royal Chapel in 1496. Mary, Queen of Scots, as an infant  was crowned here in 1543 by her mother Mary De Guise. James V (who ruled between 1513 and 1542) completed the construction of the Royal Palace by employing French masons. As he died at a very young age, his wife, Mary of Guise, completed the unfinished work. The old building served as offices and accommodation for royal household. Now it has been converted into a museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. James V constructed the royal Palace in a grand manner to stay here along with his newly married French queen. The outer walls of the palace were embellished with beautiful statues of Hellenic gods and goddesses and saints polished with gold. These figures were meant to show his royal splendor, virtues and bravery. Now the figures have become worn out and deprived of their past glory.

The Great Hall

Chapel Royal  (inside view)

              













 The Great Hall or Parliament Hall built by James IV is a very spacious hall with beautiful Renaissance  architecture. In the palace there are two separate apartments for king and queen. In each apartment there is an outer hall, a conference room and a bed chamber with various other rooms called closets for private use.  In queen's conference room one can see fine attractive tapestries called unicorn tapestries. The theme of these beautiful woven designs is the hunting of a unicorn by knights and royal courtiers which symbolize royal power, nobility and chastity combining both pagan and Christian implications.The unicorn, being a heraldic symbol of Scottish royalty indicates power and nobility. In pagan tradition it indicated virtues and it is believed that only a chaste virgin can tame a unicorn. In Biblical tradition the unicorn stands for Jesus Christ who is the savior of mankind. The new tapestries seen in the Queen's royal chamber are closely based on a set of seven tapestries produced in 1500's . They are now kept in the Metropolitan Museum of New York at its Cloister's Museum.

King's Royal Chamber

Sterling Heads on the Ceiling

The Unicorn Tapestry

Queen's Bed Chamber

The Unicorn Tapestry

The Sterling Heads

The ceiling of King's Chamber was originally decorated with a series of carved figures on oak panels known as Sterling Heads. On them figures of Scottish kings, queens, Roman and Greek emperors, legendary heroic figures, Scottish nobles and ladies in fashionable costumes and saints were carved within wreaths of fruits and foliage. They have been removed when the ceiling collapsed in 1777. Out of the fifty-six heads thirty six heads are still found. New heads have been re-crated and brightly painted to deck the ceiling of the royal chamber.Visitors can see the original Sterling Heads in the Sterling Head Gallery. When we entered, we saw some people dressed in various royal and traditional costumes and playing the roles of royal household. In Queen's chamber we saw a fair lady with a bejewel led crown  sitting and knitting the beautiful designs on a tapestry. A court jester was seen entertaining with his witty remarks and gestures.

 This construction of this Castle was inspired by the grand and elaborate models of European
 Renaissance to show the Scottish Emperor's (James V) learning, sophistication, royal splendor along with assertion of his power to rule the Scottish kingdom and to convey the messages of power, prosperity, justice and wisdom.The Scottish Govt. and Historic Scotland deserve all applause for their liberal contribution of spending more than twelve million pounds to renovate and re-create the grandeur of this castle and protect its unique identity and heritage by their untiring efforts and sense of dedication.

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       27-12-2013                                                                          SOMASESHU GUTALA

The Thrilling Metropolis (Part-III)

The Famous Balmoral Hotel

Princes Street, Edinburgh

  The main shopping street of the New Town is called the Princes Street starting from Waterloo Station to Shandwick Place at the west end. Originally it was called St.Giles Street facing Edinburgh's Castle and the Old Town.King George III later named the street after his two sons, Prince George and Prince Frederick.On the north side of the street you will a row of shops and a very spacious garden on the south side.A steep rise or embankment is seen on the northern side due to increase in width of the Princes Street.Though the plan of this was laid out by James Craig in 1770, most of the buildings were re-developed in the nineteenth century. The tourists can do a lot of shopping here as this street was lined with many shops, malls, hotels and historic monuments. The famous hotel Balmoral Hotel and the Royal Bank of Scotland are located in this locality.

 The Princes Street Garden is on the south side of the Princes Street spreading over a vast area of nearly 35acres and is divided by a mound . Previously this place was a marshy lake (Nor Loch) which served as a dumping place. It was later drained and a garden was laid out in 1770's and in 1820's. The Nor Loch was created by James II In 1450 to serve as a natural defense. In 1460 James III ordered the area to be flooded to strenghten the castle's defense. In later times the lake became a dumping trench and nearly three hundred witch trials took place here and the victims were thrown into this loch. In 1759 this lake was drained to facilitate the construction of the New Town to the north of this area. In 1820's a beautiful garden was laid out. The East Princes Garden stretching from the mound to the Waverly Bridge is 8.5 acres in area and the West Princes Garden is nearly  29 acres extending up to St.John's and St.Cuthbert's churches near Lothian Road in the west. One can see statues and monuments of many famous persons and celebrities.


                  

Scottish War Memorial

Scott Monument

Ross Fountain

The Mermaid Figures

                               
                                    

   In the East Princes Garden, the famous Scott Monument constructed in Gothic style in 1844 to honor Sir Walter Scott (The famous writer and novelist), attracts the attention of the tourists. The statue of the famous essayist Dr.John Wilson (Who wrote under the pseudonym Christopher North ) and David Livingstone( a famous Scottish Explorer) were also seen. A commemorative stone was erected honoring the soldiers who fought in the Spanish Civil War. In the West Princes Garden the statues of the famous Scottish poet, Allan Ramsay, the Church Reformer, Thomas Guthrie and that of Dr.James Young Simpson are seen. The Ross Fountain is a beautiful structure representing the four Muses of Knowledge-- Science, Arts, Poetry, and Industry. A female figure stands on the pedestal at the apex of the fountain . Just below the four Muses, the figures of mermaids are seen in graceful postures. This metal cast fountain was bought by the Philanthropist and gun-maker, Daniel Ross from the Great Exhibition, London in 1862 and was later installed here in 1872. Various concerts and other events are held at the Ross Band Stand. Apart from the Scottish American War Memorial, there is the world's first Floral clock at the eastern entrance actually showing the time.The design of the Floral Clock varies every year. This Floral Clock was the brain child of John MC Hattie,Edinburgh Parks Superintendent and was designed first by Ritchie& Son Clock Manufacturers and set up in 1903. Later many improvements were made to the clock.

Floral Clock

Allan Ramsay  (1686-1758)

       
















Really it was quite refreshing to stroll through the garden viewing the beautiful statues and monuments which enrich the beauty of this park with their historic presence and noble messages. As we were leaving the park we saw a beggar scarcely dressed, sitting on the steps. He noticed us shivering in the cold weather and smilingly remarked "Sir, come in December to feel the real winter. We smiled back admiring his ability to face such weather in August. As we were bidding farewell to this "City of Spires", the simple but moving lines of that Scottish Bard, Robert Burns echoed through my mind "Edina! Scotia's Darling Seat! All hail Thy Palaces and Towers/ Where once beneath a Monarch's seat/ Sat Legislation's Sovereign Powers."
                       
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      15th December, 2013.                                                                    SOMASESHU GUTALA

The Thrilling Metropolis (Part-II)

The Royal Mile

Tattoo military celebrations

The main entrance road to the castle is called "Royal Mile" which is more than one mile by 107 yards in length. It starts at the castle entrance and leads to the gates of the Holy Rood Palace.The Royal Mile is the  busiest tourist street in the old town.On its way it is connected by many side-streets or cross roads. King David I realizing the strategic importance of the castle developed the village surrounding the castle hill (Dun Eidyn in ancient Gaelic means hill fort on the sloping edge). This High Street(main road) was called Via Regis that is the way of the king , from which the present name "Royal Mile" may have originated. The buildings and the gardens existing in this area were destroyed and burnt down by the English army in 1544 during the reign of the British king Henry VIII. This area was densely populated with a large population of more than 70,000 people dwelling in multi-storyed buildings, some of which were fourteen storyes high mainly built with stone in 1645. In 1880s Patrick Geddes, the famous Botanist and town-planner developed this area by re-modelling and adding court yards and gardens in the Royal Mile, thus restoring its past glory as it seemed 500 years ago. At the entrance of the castle on the Esplanade, the Military Tattoo, a ceremonial form of evening entertainment, is organized every year in August. More than two lakhs of spectators attend this grand musical performance and musicians from more than thirty countries particpate in this magnificent spectacle.The Royal Bank of Scotland is one of the sponsors of this function.This show is broadcast in more than thirty countries all over the world and brings considerable benefit to the Govt. and charitable contributions to Army Benevolent Fund.The First Tattoo was organized officially by the British Govt. in 1950.

Witches' Well

Just on the eastern corner of the Esplanade there was a place called "Witches' Well", the spot where the women guilty of practising witchcraft and black magic were tortured and burnt at stake. More than 300 witches lost their lives at this spot in the raging flames.A cast iron wall fountain with a metal plaque indicates the place just as a sign of peace to these ill-fated women.

As we walked through Royal Mile, our attention was caught by a board with letters engraved "Boswell's Court". Now it is an entrance way to "The Witchery Restaurant".This close(space or narrow passage between two buildings) was named after Dr.Boswell, who lived in this tenement in the late 18th century. His nephew James Boswell (1740-1795) was the devoted admirer and famous biographer of Dr.Samuel Johnson, with whom he dined here once.

Inside view of the Tartan Weaving Mill

The Tartan Weaving Mill

Typical Scottish Kilt

Various patterns of Kilts

Another building which attracted our attention was a big shop, actually a mill with five storeys , called " The Tartan Weaving Mill" an exhibition showing the production of woolen clothes through various stages right from shearing wool to making kilts. It is a factory-cum-shop showing the the evolutionary changes in  processes and procedures of woolen cloth manufacturing industry. I saw different types of weaving instruments and looms. The typical Scottish pattern in red with  black and white squares is seen on kilts, caps and jackets etc.We also found many gift items and souvenirs here. In olden days this building used to be the castle hill reservoir for supplying water to the residents of the Royal Mile. The word Tartan (in Gaelic Breacan) refers to the Scottish woolen design - a square where two colors cross, giving a speckled effect-- a network of horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors.
                                                                                                                           

St.Giles Cathedral

Stained Glass Windows

In Between the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace lies St.Giles Cathedral, also known as High Kirk of  Edinburgh and the Mother Church of Presbyterianism. Though there used to be a small church at this site in 854, the formal dedication of the church took place in 1243 by the Bishop of St.Andrews.During the reign of the Scottish king David I (1124-1153) a bigger church was built at this place. Later many chapels and extensions were added by the merchants and nobles. John Knox(1505-1572) , the Scottish reformer introduced many changes in the system and organization of the church during his tenure of ministership between 1559 and 1572. This church was governed by episcopal bishops only during 1635-1638 and 1661and 1689.backed by the authority of the kings,


As we were looking for a suitable restaurant to find some shelter from chilly blast in cold night, we saw a huge crowd watching the daring feats of an acrobat balancing himself on a long pole and talking through a microphone connected to his head from behind. In the shivering blast of the northern weather he was seated on a pole fixed to cycle wheel on the ground. He was bare-bodied and was turning the gas-lit fire brands in a circle with superb skill . He was cracking jokes as if he was seated comfortably on a plush cushioned seat. He performed his feats so effortlessly that we were wonder-struck to see how he endured such biting cold weather and entertaining the onlookers without showing least signs of any discomfort. We heard of bare-bodied yogis who did penance in snow-covered Himalayas. Such endurance I found in this person who announced that he used to come once a year to regale the audience with his excellent feats. The crowd cheered and threw a shower of coins in appreciation of his wonderful abilities.

Camera Obscura

World of Illusions

 Another unforgettable spectacle of attraction in the Royal Mile is the exhibition called "Camera Obscura", the world of illusions. Though the entry fee is somewhat high, we went inside to seek refuge from the rough cold weather. The meaning of Camera Obscura is "an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment and was one of the inventions that led to photography," (Wikipedia). In common terms it is a dark room with many scientific instruments to view space objects or distant things. In the dark room we saw moving images of important places of Edinburgh projected on a level table surface from a giant telescope. It was quite amazing. We also saw mirrors and lenses that change our physical features and dimensions or swap our face with another one sitting on the opposite side. We realized that whatever we behold is not absolutely true and our visual experiences are conditioned by so many external factors beyond our vision-- a kind of Platonic interpretation felt in reality!
As we stayed in Edinburgh just for one day, we had no time to see the Holy Rood Palace. To voice my feelings properly, let me borrow this apt quotation from Alan Bold, the famous Sottish poet and biographer,

" Edinburgh is an experience.A city of enormous gifts. Whose streets sing of history, whose cobbles tell tales." Alan Bold.
 
   December 2nd 2013.                                                                                       Somaseshu Gutala

The Thrilling Metropolis -- Edinburgh (Part I)

Edinburgh Castle

The statues of Robert Bruce and William Wallace

                                                                                         
 
 For most of us Scotland brings a picture of a mountainous region with icy winds and uncultivated wilderness  without much sophisticated European prudery and fashionable styles.But after our visit to Edinburgh our conception underwent a thorough sea-change and showed us the mysterious spell cast by this historic city decked with so many monuments and memorials.We went to Edinburgh by flight from Gatwyck Airport in London. It took just one and half an hour to cover a distance of 355 miles. Soon after we got down, we caught a taxi to reach our lodgings, Hotel Ritz, located in the heart of the city. The taxi driver was a tall, hefty woman with reddish hair revealing the typical Scottish vigor and dynamic energy. Though Scotland is a part of the Great Britain, she has got her own currency and administrative system. The weather was quite chilly with strong blowing winds. Edinburgh, like London, was a big city with many old buildings and monuments standing like strong citadels resisting the ravages of time with their stone-built construction, carved designs and big arched windows. The houses were comparatively bigger and more spacious than those of London.

The figure of St.Margaret

St.Margaret's  Chapel

 First we made our way to the famous Edinburgh Castle firmly set upon a tall volcanic rock in the center of the city. We approached the fort through a busy street flanked by many shops, restaurants and pubs.This main street is called "Royal Mile". Perched on the top a huge imposing rock, the castle seemed very majestic with many turrets and towers. This is one of the oldest castles from where many Scottish kings ruled and so many patriotic heroes laid down their lives to win back their precious national symbol of pride and prestige from the warring British kings and Barons. The Scottish War Memorial designed by Lorimer was built within the premises of the castle shortly after the World War I. The broad walk or esplanade near the castle is the place where the world-famous Tattoo (military band music festival) is held annually over a three-week period in August. This castle is at the west end of the old town and was constructed in the twelfth century in the reign of King David I and continued to be the royal residence till the union of the crowns in 1603. From the fifteenth century onwards, the castle gradually lost its importance as the residential place of the royalty. By the seventeenth century this castle had been used as military barracks. St.Margaret's Chapel is the oldest surviving structure built in 12th century that withstood many invasions by the British monarchs. King David I, built this church in memory of his mother St.Margaret, who died in this castle in 1093.  In 1174, the Scottish King William I gave away this castle along with three other castles to the English King Henry II as personal ransom. In 1186 this castle was restored to King William again. During the Scottish wars of Independence this castle changed hands many times. In 1314 Robert Bruce won this castle from Edward III of England and built a new castle in 1335 but held it only till 1341. After the wars of Independence (1286-1328)  David II constructed most part of the castle. In his honor, David's Tower was erected. In 1571 the English forces laid siege for two years and destroyed David's Tower. After the death of the English Virgin Queen Elizabeth I, King James I (James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots ) became the king of  England uniting both the Scottish and English kingdoms.

 The coat of arms of this city bears the castle as one of its important symbols with three towers  The anchor wreathed about with a cable refers to the office of the Admiral of the Forth held by the Lord Provost of this town.The maiden on the left indicates this place as a haven for royal princesses and the doe represents the symbol associated with St.Giles, the patron saint of this city. The Latin phrase over the anchor"Nisi Dominus Frustra"is a heraldic contraction of a verse taken from the 127th psalm with the meaning " Except the Lord Build the house, Thy labor in vain that build it / Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman walketh in vain."  The images of this castle are used on postal stamps and on various bank notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
 
This castle, having different types of construction in different times, still preserves the basic structure in tact with strong defenses at three levels. At every level one can find turrets with circular stone steps that makes enemies very difficult to enter. Many canons were kept to defend this fort. Even now at 10' clock, a canon is fired from the castle as a reminder to break for the lunch, except on Sundays. The Great Hall, built by James IV was used for the State Assembly meetings. In 1650 Cromwell invaded and occupied this castle and converted it into soldiers' barracks.

                                                                      
                                           

The Chamber where James I was born

The Great Hall

Inside the War Museum

National War Museum

The Royal Palace is the official residence of Scottish kings and royal family. Queen Mary's mother, Marie De Guise, died here in 1650. We saw the painted portraits of James I and Queen Mary I. James I was born here in 1566. There are many vaults beneath the castle which were used for storing goods and for keeping prisoners. We saw the prison vaults where the French soldiers captured during the war were kept. It was like a dungeon. The prisoners had to sleep in swings made of coarse material. Each prisoner was given just the minimum quantity of food and drink. Some prisoners with artistic talent made some toys and artifacts with the material they could get. Some scratched their names as sad reminders of their fate. During the Napoleonic wars(1803-1815), prisoners from various countries like France, Germany, Holland, Spain and Italy  were kept here in captivity.

                                                                

The Coat of arms of the city of Edinburgh

The Royal Crown , scepter and the sword

 In the Crown Room of the royal palace one can see the Crown, Scepter and sword of the Scottish kings which dated from the fifteenth century.The crown was made by the Edinburgh goldsmith, John Mosman in 1540 and was first worn by James V at the coronation ceremony of his second queen, Marie De Guise. The scepter was presented to James IV by the Pope Alexander VI in 1494, and the sword in1508 by the Pope Julius II. Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned and was given the sword and the scepter at her coronation ceremony on 9th September, 1543, when she was just an infant.

Inside the prison

Prison for war captives

The National War Museum was opened here in 1933. Originally this building was an ordnance store built in 1755. One can see various weapons, scenes from wars, Scottish weapons and the typical Scottish uniform. Owing to their sturdy and martial qualities and their enduring grit and brave qualities, mostly Scottish people were recruited by the British Govt.The Scot soldiers rendered commendable service and occupied high positions in the British army. We can see the portraits of those brave colonels and majors here. This castle stands as a silent witness to so many historic incidents and happenings and still reveals the past glory of Scottish kingdom and the sacrifices made by so many martyrs to defend their country. Let me end this article with the inspiring lines Sir Walter Scott that breathe the true spirit of Scottish Patriotic feelings.

                                         
                                          " Breathes there the man with soul so dead
                                          ' Who never to himself hath said',
                                           This is my own, my native land
                                           Whose heart hath never within him burned
                                           As home his footsteps he hath turned
                                           From wandering on a foreign strand?"

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        November 5th 2013                                                      Somaseshu Gutala

At Rydal Mount

Rydal Mount House

The Garden

Another spacious and more comfortable dwelling where Wordsworth spent more than thirty seven years of his life is the house on a hill called "Rydal Mount" on the outskirts of Ambleside, from where one can have a fine view of the lakes, Rydal Water and Grasmere Lake surrounded by hills and valleys. Wordsworth led a very frugal life in his humble residence of Dove Cottage in  1808. Due to lack of sufficient  accommodation he moved to Allan Bank in 1810 at the north end of Grasmere. The poet disliked the damp and humid place and moved to the parsonage at Grasmere. His two children  Catherine and Thomas died in the same year1812. The poet, unable to stay there with his loss of beloved children, shifted his  residence to Rydal Mount in 1813. He took this on rent from Lady Diana de Fleming of Rydal Hall. This house is very spacious with four bed rooms, a study room and a kitchen. Wordsworth wrote many poems here and revised his earlier works.Though  Wordsworth passed away in 1850, his family continued to live here till 1859, the year of Mary Hutchinson's death. Wordsworth's great-great grand daughter Mary Henderson purchased this property in 1969 and since then has been managed by the descendants of Wordsworth's family. Here we can see the portraits of Wordsworth's family as well as many of his manuscripts. In the room at the entrance there are many published books and works on Wordsworth. My younger daughter, sensing my zeal, bought a copy of the "Prelude"and gifted it to me by which my long cherished desire of owning the masterpiece has been  been fulfilled. Later when I expressed my desire to meet the descendants of Wordsworth's family, the lady near the counter informed me that they had gone to London to spend their vacation.

Drawing Room

Dining Room

St. Mary Church

Inside View of St.Mary Church

 The main attraction of this house is the garden in a spacious area of four acres. Wordsworth, interested in landscape gardening, planted many varieties of herbs, flower plants and trees. Even now nearly twenty-six varieties of plants are seen. It is a very colorful garden with flowers like daffodils, blue bells, rhododendrons etc. The poet liked Nature in her wild and natural state and so he preserved the touch of wilderness with clumps of thickly grown bushes and trees and with a steep slope down providing a view of the distant lakes. In stead of sitting in his study room, he preferred to sit on the wooden bench on the elevated mound in midst of Nature and put down his poetic feelings as if he got instant communication with Nature. His beloved daughter, Dora, inherited some of the poetic qualities of her father and wrote a traveller's journal. At the age of 39 she married Edward Quillinan much against her father's wishes in 1843. Unfortunately she died in the prime of her youth due to Tuberculosis  in 1847. This tragic incident affected the old poet very much and later he could not write much.

Mary Hutchinson

Rydal Mt. Garden

In her memory Wordsworth planted hundreds of daffodils in a field near St.Mary's Church. The chapel of St.Mary is just a few yards away from Rydal Mount. Wordsworth used to visit this church often and also acted as church warden from 1833 to 1834. In 1838 Wordsworth was conferred with honorary doctorate  by Durham University in and by the Oxford University in 1839. He was given a civil pension of 300 pounds a year by the Government and was honored with the prestigious position  as Poet Laureate of England in 1843 after Robert Southey's  death.


 As a tireless walker Wordsworth used to undertake long walking tours around the lakes and hills and  recorded his observations and knowledge about the Lake District in his prose book "Guide to the Lakes". Many critics think that his shorter poems have more poetic appeal to the readers as they seem to be more spontaneous and creative without any prosaic and tiresome passages. But to get at the true spirit of Wordsworth's poetry and enjoy the majestic rhythm of his verse, one should have patience to read his long poems like "Tintern Abbey", "Prelude"and "Excursion". In his sonnets also one can find diversity, personal feelings and reflections on various themes and incidents. Just like Nature his poetry is simple and plain without any artificial beauty and is as bare as a rocky mountain with crystal-clear springs here and there, dotted with pretty clusters of wild flowers peeping through unexpected corners. As W.H. Hudson says "Wordsworth finds a never failing principle of joy in Nature" and added spiritual beauty to her natural beauty. As Matthew Arnold said," (When inspired) Nature Herself seems... to take the pen out of his hand and to write for him with Her own bare, sheer, penetrating power." In his letter to Lady Beaumont in 1807, Wordsworth wrote:"to be incapable of a feeling poetry, in my sense of the word, is without love of human nature and reverence for God."  How true of his own feelings and of his poetry!

 Dr. Thomas Arnold, father of Matthew Arnold, after visiting Rydal Mount described the abode of Wordsworth in glowing terms. " No where on earth have I seen a spot of more perfect and and enjoyable beauty." A visit to Rydal Mount really gives us a clear idea about Wordsworth's love for Nature and his attachment to his native rural surroundings.

Dora Wordsworth

Dora's Field

 Let me conclude my article with the following sonnet composed by me when my younger daughter apprised me of her first visit to Grasmere, --- a fitting tribute to this great lover of Nature and humanity.


                              "Dear Daughter! Blest art thou indeed to see
                               The holy dwelling of the eminent bard
                               Of Nature born in Nature's lap, and trod
                               On grassy plains surrounded by the valleys green;
                               Grasmere, the very sound evokes untarnished beauty
                               With country pleasures still alive unscarred
                               By urban ways; a real pastime you had;
                               The clear blue sky and lakes with verdant scene 
                               May flash upon your visionary mind 
                               Cute daffodils, Reaper's Song and Leech-Gatherer's skill
                               The slopes of Rydal Mount and Alfoxden
                               Where the noble poet enjoyed and bliss did find 
                               The rural hospitality you tasted with thrill
                               A feast indeed-- no doubt-- beyond pollution's ken.


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                                                                                                                                                                              October 20, 2013,                                              SOMA SESHU G.

           

A Brief Note On William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

Lake District

                                                                         



  Dear readers,
                         I thought it would be more fitting to acquaint you with some important information about
   William Wordsworth before describing his place of residence as the surroundings he selected for his
   dwelling, are closely connected with his views about nature ans his peaceful way of life. Besides you
   may get some useful lessons for your own lives too.

                       William Wordsworth is familiar to most of us as a nature poet who brought in a surprising   and revolutionary change in English Poetry when he propounded the theory that poetry should be written in "a selection of the real language of men in a state of vivid sensation" on familiar and common themes. His preface to the second edition of "The Lyrical Ballads" in 1802 sums up his poetic philosophy. Next as a champion of liberty and democracy he supported French Revolution( 1789-99) but was later  disappointed with the after effects of indiscriminate killings and lawless anarchy that followed. In his poem,"Ode to Duty"'  he praises duty as the cosmic moral order: "Thou dost preserve Stars from wrong/ And the most ancient Heavens, through Thee, are fresh and strong." Though Duty is seen as a "Stern  Law Giver, she is "the Godhead's most benignant grace". The poet is vexed with lawless freedom and humbly appeals to her guidance."I supplicate for thy control/ Me this unchartered freedom tires/I feel the weight of chance desires." Wordsworth's sister, Dorothy, gave him moral support and helped him in overcoming his sense of depression and find solace and faith in Nature. Wordsworth in his poem "Tintern Abbey" says of his sister : " She gave me eyes, she gave me years/ And humble cares, delicate fears / A heart, the fountain of sweet tears / And love, and thought, and joy.  He rebelled against mere bookish knowlege(nowadays information or data from electronic devices) and stressed on individual feelings and experiences.

                                                               " One impulse from a vernal wood
                                                                  May teach you more of man
                                                                  Of moral evil and good
                                                                  Than all the sages can." (The Tables Turned)
                                                         
                   During his long poetic vocation that spans more than fifty years, he repeatedly advocated the
the need for cultivating a harmonious relationship with Nature and denounced the harmful effects of industrial urban atmosphere and sophisticated life style.

                                                             "  The world is too much with us: late and soon
                                                                Getting and spending we lay waste our powers:
                                                                 Little we see in Nature that is ours." (The world is too
                                                                                                                             much with us)

                  Wordsworh is decidedly the first poet who revealed and himself deeply felt the spiritual
 identity between God, Nature and Man. He says that nature is the outer garment of God and the pervading spirit in Nature is a purer manifestation of the  Creator. So man can seek guidance from Nature to tread on the right path to make himself and the society live in a happy and peaceful way. He found the spirit of joy and tranquility in the objects of Nature. The person who has close connection with Nature will imbibe the  same
.

                                                            "A spirit that impels
                                                             All thinking things, all objects of all thought
                                                             And rolls through all things."                    (Tintern Abbey)
                                      
                                                           "Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns
                                                             And the round ocean and the living air
                                                             And the blue sky, and in the mind of man." (Tintern Abbey)

                Wordsworth looked upon Nature not only as object of joy, beauty and spiritual purity, but also
 as a moral teacher guiding him whenever he is in a crisis to show him the right path.

                                                             "Come forth into the light of things
                                                               Let Nature be your teacher ....
                                                               Come forth, and bring with you a heart
                                                               That watches and receives."(The Tables Turned)
                                                                  
                                                             ".Nature never did betray
                                                               The heart that loved her: 'tis her privilege,
                                                               Through all the years of this, our life, to lead
                                                               From joy to joy." (Tintern Abbey)

           Matthew Arnold  rightly said " moral truth is transmuted by him(Wordsworth) into the purest      poetry." John Stuart Mill called Wordsworth's poetry as "the very culture of feeling."


         Wordsworth thought that primary education is the key to help the poor working class free from        poverty, ignorance and the slavery of industrial atmosphere. He took keen interest in the planning and design  of various gardens in his local area. He thought that his role as a poet should be to guide the society on righteous lines.In one of his letters he says;" Every great poet is a teacher, I wish to be considered as a teacher or nothing at all."  In his later years he realized the values of traditional restraint and religious training which provide a sense of direction for a disciplined and well-organized.

        Wordsworth tried to versify his literary autobiography or the growth of a poet's mind with an ambitious design on a grand scale of epic proportions with the title"The Recluse" in three parts. For that as an introduction he wrote a lengthy poem running into twelve books with a simple title "A Poem to
Coleridge" between 1798 and 1805. This poem was later published by his wife Mary Hutchinson after his 
death with the title "The Prelude" in 1850. Coleridge praised it as "an orphic song indeed / A song divine 
of high and passionate thoughts / To their own music chanted." Of the the main poem "The Recluse",
only the second part in nine books, with the title"The Excursion" was published in 1814.

        As an admirer of Milton's sonnets, he was impressed by their 'dignity, simplicity and majestic harmony" and himself composed more than 500 sonnets during his long poetic career.on various  topics extending the range of the sonnet to include social, religious topics and beauty of  Nature.In the majestic and solemn march of the blank verse, Wordsworth comes next to Milton. So there is no wonder that the famous critic and poet, Mathew Arnold ranked Wordsworth next to Shakespeare and Milton in poetic quality and calibre.

    Wordsworth's poetry has universal relevance, especially in this modern age which has been struggling on    the brink of destruction because of its own misdeeds, that is, over-exploitation and pollution of natural      resources.If we care to listen to the words of this poet of Nature, may be we too will feel that intimacy with  Nature and experience spiritual kinship and find out a way out of this perplexing maze of man-made  impending disaster.  
                                       ***************************** 
      3rd October, 2013                                                                      Somaseshu  Gutala