286 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



fringes of gold, the undeterminate fummits of this 

 celeflial barrier, and proceed to flrike with the 

 reflexes of their fires the pyramids of the collateral 

 aerial mountains, which then appear to conlift of 

 filver and vermilion. At this moment of the 

 evening are perceptible, amidft their redoubled 

 ridges, a multitude of valleys extending into infi- 

 nity, and diftinguifhing themfelves at their open- 

 ing by fome fhade of flefli, or of rofe-colour. 



Thofe celeflial valleys prefent, in their different 

 contours, inimitable tints of white, melting away 

 into white, or fliades lengthening themfelves out, 

 without mixing over other fliades. You fee, here 

 and there, ifiuing from the cavernous fides of 

 thofe mountains, tides of light precipitating them- 

 felves in ingots of gold and filver, over rocks of 

 coral. Here it is a gloomy rock, pierced through 

 and through, difclofing, beyond the aperture, the 

 pure azure of the firmament ; there it is an exten- 

 fivc ftrand, covered with fands of gold, flretching 

 over the rich ground of Heaven^ poppy-coloured, 

 fcarlet, and green as the emerald. 



The reverberation of thofe weftern colours dif- 

 fufes itfelf over the Sea, whofe azure billows it 

 glazes with faffron and purple. The mariners, 

 leaning over the gunwale of the fliip, admire in 

 filence thofe aerial landfcapes. Sometimes this 



fublime 



