The height of the Jungfrau is 13,000 feet above the
sea, 11,000 above the valley: she is the highest of this range. Heard
the avalanches falling every five minutes nearly. From whence we
stood, on the Wengen Alp, we had all these in view on one side; on the
other, the clouds rose from the opposite valley, curling up
perpendicular precipices like the foam of the ocean of hell, during a
spring tide--it was white and sulphury, and immeasurably deep in
appearance.[3] The side we ascended was, of course, not of so
precipitous a nature; but on arriving at the summit, we looked down
upon the other side upon a boiling sea of cloud, dashing against the
crags on which we stood (these crags on one side quite perpendicular.)
Staid a quarter of an hour--begun to descend--quite clear from cloud
on that side of the mountain. In passing the masses of snow, I made a
snowball and pelted Hobhouse with it.
[3] Ye _avalanches_, whom a breath draws down
In mountainous o'erwhelming, come and crush me!
_I hear ye momently above, beneath,
Crash with a frequent conflict_
* * * * *
The mists boil up around the glaciers; _clouds_
_Rise curling_ fast beneath me, white and sulphury,
_Like foam from the roused ocean of deep hell!_
MANFRED.
[4] O'er the savage sea,
The glassy ocean of the mountain ice
We skim its rugged breakers, which put on
The aspect of a tumbling _tempest's_ foam
_Frozen in a moment_.
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