Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2004. Vol. 4. Eger Journal of English Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 30)

PÉTER DOLMÁNYOS Wordsworth and the Mountains: The Crossing of the Alps and the Ascent to Snowdon

20 Péter Dolmányos obscure; especially the word "usurp" is enigmatic; however, this seems to be one of the favourite words of Wordsworth in passages of utmost significance. The ambiguity of the passage seems to lie in the problem whether it is the "soulless image" or the eye which "had usurped upon a living thought". The usurpation of the "soulless image" seems more acceptable and in that case the passage may be read as another element of foreshadowing: the anticipated sublime experience is not likely to be fulfilled. The scene, despite the initial inconvenience of experience, is a kind of 'book' for the young travellers: .. .we could not choose but read Lessons of genuine brotherhood, the plain And universal reason of mankind, The truths of young and old. (235, H. 544-547) There is education offered by the sight and during their meditative hours "dreams and fictions" abound. The beginning of the next passage, however, mixes something disturbing with these dreams, and the awkward syntax of the following sentence adds to the ambiguity of the experience: Yet still in me with those soft luxuries Mixed something of stern mood, an under-thirst Of vigour seldom utterly allayed. (237, 11. 557-559) That "stern mood" may suggest thoughts and feelings of a different kind, the rapture of dreams may be checked by some more serious concerns which are not clarified by Wordsworth. The implication, however, that there is something different there is enough and the experience that follows justifies this. It is not clear, though, whether Wordsworth felt this ambivalence an the very spot or it is something that belongs to the moments when he is composing these lines. The description of the actual crossing the Alps is not a supreme one: it is a very simple account of how they were left behind in the "halting-place" and when they set off to join the others how they failed to do so. The anticipated dignity of the scene is nowhere to be found, the experience becomes a source of frustration and disappointment. Wordsworth, however, is not afraid of exposing his Tolly' of having too many and too great expectations. Wordsworth and his friend take the road of the Simplon Pass. They follow a "band of muleteers" and they come to a place where the whole company settles to have their meal. The muleteers continue their way right after this, whereas the two young men linger on for some time. Their intention is to catch up with the company and they set off to find them: they are presumably further ahead on the same road. Wordsworth and his friend, however, fail to meet them: they come to a juncture and take the more