Skiddaw

PELION and Ossa flourish side by side,

Together in immortal books enrolled:

His ancient dower Olympus hath not sold,

And that inspiring hill, which “did divide

Into two ample horns his forehead wide,”

Shines with poetic radiance as of old;

While not an English mountain we behold

By the celestial muses glorified.

Yet round our sea-girt shore they rise in crowds:

What was the great Parnassus’ self to thee,

Mount Skiddaw? In his natural sovereignty

Our British hill is nobler far; he shrouds

His double front among Atlantic clouds,

And pours forth streams more sweet than Castaly.