According to the www.dover.gov.uk website, "The first recorded description of Dover describes the scene that Julius Caesar saw in 55 BC when, with two legions of soldiers, he arrived off Dover looking for a suitable landing place and 'saw the enemy's forces, armed, in position on all the hills there. At that point steep cliffs came down close to the sea in such a way that it is possible to hurl weapons from them right down to the shore. It seemed to me that the place was altogether unsuitable for landing.' (Caesar's Commentaries, Book IV.)"
The chalk cliffs are quite a sight, rising out of the water nearly 300 feet in some places. UK's National Trust claims it is "one of this country's most spectacular natural features."Rock Samphire
In Shakespeare's King Lear, it was the location of Act IV, Scene I where the Earl of Gloucester says "There is a cliff, whose high and bending head / looks fearfully in the confined deep." As he looks over the edge of the cliff, he sees "half way down / Hangs one that gathers samphire: dreadful trade!" Samphire is a plant native to the area which, according to some sources, tastes like asparagus. It was gathered by people who would lower themselves by a rope to the cliff face where it grew.
From "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold (1867):The sea is calm tonight
The tide is ful, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits: - on the French coast, the light
Gleams, and is gone: the cliffs of England stand,
Glimering and vast, out on the tranquil bay.
Reminds me of a slice of cheesecake.
ReplyDeleteThe white cliffs are gorgeous but they wouldn't be nearly so if it were not for the green above and the blue below. I love the contrast of bold colors. Very striking. I can imagine wanting to land there just for the asthetics! Being lowered down by a rope for something that tastes like a vegetable, however, does NOT sound like my thing - I don't think I would do it for CHOCOLATE! Yikes.
ReplyDeleteI just think it's amazing that it's CHALK.
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