182 HEATH. 



THE HEATH. 



The beautiful heath with its purple bells, has been cho- 

 sen for the emblem of solitude, because it grows only in 

 a barren soil, and consequently in dreary situations. 



What call'st thou solitude? Is not the earth 

 With various living creatures, and the air, 

 Replenish'd, and all these at thy command, 

 To come and play before thee? 



MILTON. 



The Erica here, 



That o'er the Caledonian hills sublime, 



Spreads its dark mantle, (where the bees delight 



To seek their purest honey,) flourishes. 



MRS. C. SMITH. 



To you, ye wastes, whose artless charms 



Ne'er drew ambition's eye, 

 'Scap'd a tumultuous world's alarms, 



To your retreats I fly. 



Deep in your most sequester'd bower, 



Let me at last recline ; 

 Where solitude, mild modest power, 



Leans on her ivy'd shrine. 



BEATTIE. 



