STUDY XII. 409 



plans ; fometimes they ftand flill, like curtains 

 drawn along the fkirts of the forefts ; fometimes 

 they mount into columns over the brooks which 

 meander through the meadows : fometimes they 

 are quite gray ; at other times they are illumined 

 and penetrated by the rays of the Sun. Under all 

 thefe afpects, they difplay to us, if I may venture 

 to ufe the exprefiion, feveral perfpectives of infi- 

 nity in infinity itfelf. 



I fay nothing of the delightful fpectacle which 

 the Heavens fometimes prefent to us, in the difpo- 

 fition of the clouds. I do not know of any Phi- 

 lofopher who has fo much as fufpected that their 

 beauties were fubjected to Law. One thing is 

 certain, namely, that no one animal, which lives 

 in the light, is infenfible to their effects. 1 have 

 fpoken, in another place, fomewhat of their cha- 

 racters of amability or terror, which are the fame 

 with thofe of amiable or dangerous animals and 

 vegetables, conformably to thofe of the days and 

 of the feafons which they announce. The Laws 

 of them which I have fketehed, will fuggeft deli- 

 cious fubjects of meditation to any perfon difpofed 

 to ftudy them, excepting thofe who are determined 

 to apply the mechanical medium of barometers 

 and thermometers. Thefe inftruments are good 

 for nothing but the regulation of the atmofphere 

 of our chambers. They too frequently conceal 



from 



