Wordsworth was once journeying to Lowther Castle to attend a dinner in his honour, at which the Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Coleridge were to be present. They passed down Patterdale by Ullswater, then, leaving the chaise, they struck across some fields toward the castle. Suddenly the path ended in a blind wall. The poet muttered something and attacked the wall as if it were a living entity, crying out, “This is the way, an ancient right of way too,” and passed on. That evening after the ladies had left the room, Mr. Justice Coleridge said to Sir John Wallace who was a near resident: “Sir John, I fear we have committed trespass today; we came over a broken-down wall on your Estate.” Sir John seemed irate and said that could he have caught the man who broke it down, he would have horsewhipped him. The grave old bard at the end of the table heard the words, the fire flashed into his face and rising to his feet he answered: “ I broke your wall down, Sir John, it was obstructing an ancient right of way, and I will do it again. I am a Tory, but scratch me on the back deep enough and you will find the Whig in me yet.’

In fact, ce n'est que le premier pas qui coûte.