The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

74 ROIKEBY. [CANTO II.
II.
What prospects, from his watch-tower high,
Gleam gradual on the warder's eye!Far sweeping to the east, he sees
Down his deep woods the course of Tees,'
And tracks his wanderings by the steam
Of summer vapours from the stream;
And ere he pace his destined hour
By Brackenbury's dungeon-tower,2
These silver mists shall melt away,
And dew the woods with glittering spray.
Then in broad lustre shall be shown
That mighty trench of living stone,3
And each huge trunk that, from the side,
Reclines him o'er the darksome tide,
1 The view from Barnard Castle commands the rich and
magnificent valley of Tees. Immediately adjacent to the
river, the banks are very thickly wooded; at a little distance
they are more open and cultivated; but, being interspersed
with hedgerows, and with isolated trees of great size and age,
they still retain the richness of woodland scenery. The river
itself flows in a deep trench of solid rock, chiefly limestone
and marble. The finest view of its romantic course is from
a handsome modern built bridge over.the Tees, by the late
Mr. Morritt of Rokeby. In Leland's time, the marble quarries
seem to have been of some value. " Hard under the cliff by
Egleston, is found on eche side of Tese very fair marble, wont
to be taken up booth by marbelers of Barnardes Castelle and
of Egleston, and partly to have been wrought by them, and
partly sold onwrought to others."-Itinerary. Oxford, 1768,
8vo. p. 88.
2 [MS.-" Betwixt the gate and Baliol's tower."]
3 [MS.-" Those deep-hewn banks of living stone."]