the Influence of fafle on Morals. 233 
a Pope, and a Gray ; and the voluptuoufnefs of 
a Montague, and a Chesterfield, may be ad¬ 
duced as inftances, amongft numberlefs others, 
of the truth of what has been advanced. 
But we are further told, “ that a tade for the 
beautiful fcenes of nature, not only compofes and, 
harmonizes the temper, but difpofes the mind 
to adds of piety and devotion, by raifing our 
ideas from Nature, to Nature’s God.”* The 
thought is pleafing, and ingenious; but mud 
not be admitted, without many exceptions. The 
impreffions made by the beauties of nature, will 
greatly depend on the paffions, the habits, 
and the purfuits of the beholder. Let the 
mufician take the (C wildly devious walk,” his 
notice will probably be attrafted by the melody 
of the grove, as mod nearly related to his 
favourite art. The eye of the Painter will be 
engaged, by the rich landfcape that lies before 
him ; and his thoughts will be naturally turned to 
the effedt which might be produced, by a lively 
tranfcript on canvas, of fo pifturefque a fcene. 
While the Poet, however ftruck by the grandeur 
or elegance of furrounding objects, will, only 
meditate, how they would “live in defcription, 
and look green in fong.” It is the calm con¬ 
templative mind alone, influenced by religious 
impreffions, that furveys this fair heritage, with 
> Percival on a Tafte for the Beauties of Nature. 
pious 
