344 STUDIES OF NATURE 



our orchards. The apricots of Media, and the 

 peach-trees of Perfia, fkirted, with their bloflbming 

 boughs, the lakes, and the brooks of living water 

 which bedew their roots. On leaving the ever- 

 green vallies of Cachemire, they quickly pene- 

 trated into the forefts of Europe, and went to re- 

 pofe under the foliage of the (lately beech and 

 tufted elm, which had as yet (haded only the loves 

 of the feathered race, and which no Poet had hi- 

 therto fung. They eroded the boundlefs meadows 

 which are warned by the Irtis, refembling Oceans 

 of verdure, here and there diverfified with long 

 beds of yellow lilies, with (tripes of ginzang, and 

 tufts of broad-leaved rhubarb. Following the 

 track of it's current, they plunged into the forefts 

 of the North, under the majeflic branches of the 

 fir, and the moving foliage of the birch. 



What fmiling vallies opened to their view, along 

 the rivers-fide, and invited them to deviate from the 

 road, by promifing them objects (till more lovely ! 

 What hills enamelled with unknown flowers, and 

 crowned with ancient and venerable trees, endea- 

 voured to perfuade them to proceed no farther ! 

 Arrived on the (hores of the Icy Sea, a new order 

 of things arofe to view. There was now no more 

 night. The Sun encompafled the Horizon round 

 and round ; and the mifts, difperfed through the 

 air, repeated, on different planes, the luftre of his 



rays 



