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Show [ 100 ] Where frill their filver-bofom' d Ny1nphs abhor, The blood-fmear' d manfion of gigantic THoR,- 90 -Erfi, fires volcanic in the marble wotnb Of cloud-wrapp'd WETTON raifed the maffy dotne; Rocks rear' d on rocks in huge disjointed piles Form the tall turrets, and the lengthen' d ailes ; Broad ponderous piers fufiain the roof, and wide Branch the vafi rain-bow ribs from fide to fide. 95 GigantiL" 'Thor. 1. 90. Near the village of Wetton, a mile or two above Dove-Dale, near Afhburn in Derbyfhire, there is a fpacious cavern about the middle of the afcent of the mountain, which fiill retains the name of Thor's houfe; below it is an extenfive and romantic common, where the rivers Hamps and Manifold fink into the earth, and rife ag:~in in llam gardens, the feat of J ohn Port, Efq. about three miles below. Where thefe rivers rife again there are impreffions refembling Fi(h, which appear to be of J afper bedded in Limellone. Calcareous Spars, Shells converted into a kind of Agate, coral-lines in Marble, ores of L ead, Copper, and Zinc, and many firata of Flint, or Chert, and of ToacHl:one, or L ava, abound in this part of the country. The Druids are faid to have offered human facrifices inclofed in wicker idols to Thor. Thurfday had its name from this D eity. The broken appearance of the furface of many parts of this country; vvith the Sw al~ lows, as they are cal led , or bafons on fome of t h'~ mountains, like volcanic C raters, where the rain-water !inks into the earth; and the numerous larg~.: llones, which feem to have been thrown over the land by volcanic explofions; as well as the great mafles of Toadltonc or L ava ; evince the exill:ence of violent earthquakes at fome early period of the world. At this time the channels of thefe fubterrancous rivers feem to have been formed, when a long tratl: of rocks were raifed by the ft.:a flowing in upon the central fire~ , and thus producing an irreGllible exp lo!lon of Hcam; and when thefc rocks again fubGdcd, their parts did not exaai y correfponcl, but left a long cavity arched ewer in this operation of nature. The cavities at Callleton and Buxton in Derby fhire fcem to have had a fimilar origin, as well as this ca\'ern tcm1cd Thor's honfe. Sec Mr. Whit~:hurft'~ r.lld Dr. Huttou's Theories of the E1rth. ( IOI ) While from above defcends in tnilky fl:reams One fcanty pencil of illuG.ve beams, Sufpended crags and gaping gulphs illumes, And gilds the horrors of ·the deepen' d glooms. -Here oft the Naiads, as they chanced to play Near the dread Fane on THoR's returning day, Saw from red altars fireams of guiltlefs blood Stain their green reed-beds, and pollute their Rood; Heard dying babes in wicker prifons wail, .. And !hrieks of matrons thrill the affrighted Gale; "\Vhile fro1n dark caves infernal Echoes mock, And Fiends triumphant ihout frotn every rock! -So fiill the Nymphs emerging lift in air 100 Their fi1ow-white fhoulders and their azure hair; 1 1 o Sail with fweet grace the dimpling fireams along, Lifl:ening the Shepherd's or the Miner's fong; But, when afar they view the giant-cave,. On timorous fins they circle on the wave, With firean1ing yes and throbbing hearts recoil, I I 5 Plunge their fair fonns, and clive beneath the foil.- |