POPULARITY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 293 



evening, may gaze upon the Aurora Borealis delighted with the " merry dancers," 

 and retire without a single reflection arising in their minds as to the cause of the 

 phenomenon, beyond the superstitious remembrance that some grandmother of the 

 village had recollected to have seen a similar display before poor Tom Stiles was 

 killed at the Battle of Bunker's Hill. 



Having already pointed out those descriptions of natural objects which, from 

 their fidelity and beauty, and their smell of earth and air, are at once recognized 

 by all, I must allude to those symbolical references to the works of Nature which 

 have been used by all nations and in all countries, more especially where pastoral 

 or venatorial habits have not, from the rapid advance of population, fallen into 

 disuse. These are similes taken from natural objects which are supposed to 

 accord with the narration of the writer or speaker, and to illustrate his meaning 

 more fully, or at all events, by the introduction of pleasing imagery, to offer an 

 episodic pause in or contrast with the subject treated upon. They are so com- 

 monly applied, though perhaps not always properly, that any one who looks for 

 illustrations in authors, may find them thick as fallen leaves in autumn. It 

 may not be amiss, however, to classify them into — 



I. References to the aspect of Nature generally. 

 II. Similes drawn from particular animals or objects. 

 III. Sentimental or moral deductions. 



In illustration of these I must of course make a few quotations, as it is of 

 importance to bear in mind, that such images would never have been referred to 

 had not their familiarity and truth rendered them obvious to all who heard them. 

 I shall take instances from both Homer and Virgil, though, for the sake of the 

 general reader, the garb of translation will be sufficient here. 



A Snow Storm. 



■ Their ardour kindles all the Grecian pow'rs ; 



And now the stones descend in heavier show'rs. 



As when high Jove his sharp artillery forms, 



And opes his cloudy magazine of storms ; 



In winter's bleak uncomfortable feign 



A snowy inundation hides the plain, 



He stills the winds, and bids the skies to sleep, 



Then pours the silent tempest thick and deep , 



And first the mountain tops are covered o'er, 



Then the green fields, and then the sandy shore ; 



Bent with the weight the nodding woods are seen, - 



And one bright waste hides all the works of men." Pope's Homer. 



A snow-storm of this description, unattended with wind, it would be impossible 

 for the most ardent lover of Nature better to describe ; though, critically speak - 

 vol. nr. — no. xxi. 2 R 



