Looking for Mr Darcy: The Gardens
Better late then never...
We had surprisingly good weather a few weekends ago so my sister and I took a spontaneous trip to Newstead Abbey in Nottingham.
FYI: this has nothing to do with Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice or Mr Darcy himself. It was more what it may have felt like to be part of that time. Especially, walking through the gardens.
This is part two of our day out...The Gardens
See part one: The House here
We exited the house and made our way to the gardens. The gardens are made up of 16 different sections. A list of these can be found here.
> Our little picnic
> Boatswain's Monument
A monument dedicated to his Newfoundland dog, Boatswain, who died of rabies in November 1808. The inscription is a poem written by Lord Byron and reads:
Near this Spotare deposited the Remains of onewho possessed Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence,Courage without Ferocity,and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.This praise, which would be unmeaning Flatteryif inscribed over human Ashes,is but a just tribute to the Memory ofBoatswain, a Dogwho was born in Newfoundland May 1803and died at Newstead Nov. 18th, 1808
When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth,Unknown to Glory, but upheld by Birth,The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,And storied urns record who rests below.When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen,Not what he was, but what he should have been.But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,The first to welcome, foremost to defend,Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own,Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,Unhonoured falls, unnoticed all his worth,Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth –While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.
Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,Degraded mass of animated dust!Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit!By nature vile, ennobled but by name,Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.Ye, who behold perchance this simple urn,Pass on – it honours none you wish to mourn.To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;I never knew but one -- and here he lies.
Through the garden we noticed a number of laminated pictures of famous people. Our guess was it was a scavenger hunt for school groups. I hopefully managed to find all of them.
> Made another friend
Hopefully we'll go back Christmas time to see what festivities it has to offer. I would love to see the Abbey in all its Christmas glory.
Until next time.
:-)
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