276 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



** exprefs purpofe of viewing the country ot Cela- 

 " don and Aflrea, of which Urfeius has prefented 

 *' us with pictures fo enchanting. Inftead of 

 *' amorous (liepherds, I faw, along the banks of 

 " the Lignon, nothing but fmiths, founders, and 

 *' iron mongers." 



How ! in a country fo dehghtful 1 



''It is a country merely of forges. It was 

 " this journey to Forez which diffolved my illu- 

 *' fion. Till then, never a year pafled that I did 

 *' not read the Aflrea from end to end: I had 

 *' become quite familiarized with all the per- 

 *' fonages of it. Thus Science robs us of our 

 " pleafures." 



Oh ! my Arcadians have no manner of refem- 

 blance to your blackfmiths, nor to the ideal fliep- 

 herds of Urfeius, who pafied the days and nights 

 in no other occupation but that of making love, 

 expofed internally to all the pernicious confe- 

 quences of idlenefs, and from without, to the in- 

 vafions of iurrounding Nations. Mine pradtife all 

 the arts of rural life. There are among them fliep- 

 herds, hufbandmen, fifliermen, vine-drefiers. They 

 have availed themfelvcs of all the fîtes of their 

 country, diverfified as it is with mountains, plains, 

 lakes and rocks. Their manners are patriarchal, 



\ as 



