The Isle of Portland

POWYS SITE


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VISITING WEYMOUTH
with
John Cowper Powys
[ ... in French   ]
⇒  Cover

⇒  Preface

⇒  Introduction

⇒  The visit

⇒  Weymouth map c.1930

⇒  Portland map c.1930

⇒  Works quoted

⇒  Postface

A visit to Weymouth with John Cowper Powys     [ ⇒ continue... ]

The form and shape and structure, in sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, of this extraordinary something we are embracing, this "something" which used to be called "matter", are found to be more god-like in their terrible mystery and magnetic attraction than any conceivable "spiritual being".
(In Spite Of)

THE ISLE AFLOAT

Isle.jpg

But Portland, as it lay before them, rising tier by tier over its terraces of old walls and grey roofs, seemed to be tugging at its tether in that luminous and liquid haze, seemed to be straining at this gigantic rope of transparent stones, agates and carnelians, which bound it to the mainland. The huge limestone rock seemed to have no roots, under this enchanted light, in any solid earth. It seemed to be riding, just as the battleships in the harbour seemed to be riding, upon a liquid abyss of opalescent water that sank down to the antipodes. And the Jobber got the impression that this stupendous mass of oolite was really afloat today in this translucent calm; not only afloat, but longing to drift off, to sail out and away, over the surface of that halcyon sea.
     Photo L. de Bruin

[ ⇒ footnote to the photograph... ]

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