Dr. Falconer on the Influence of the Scenery 
adorn a fcene laid in Britain, with productions 
peculiar to Afiatic climes.* 
A beautiful fcenery of a country contributes, 
I apprehend, to influence the fentiments of the 
people in fome points refpefting Religion. Thus, 
it is more than probable, that many of the ideas 
in the Roman and Greek mythologies, concern¬ 
ing a future ftate of happinefs, were derived 
from this fource. Homer’s defcription of the 
Elyfian fields, f and of the dwelling of the 
Gods, J is evidently borrowed from what he 
• May thy lofty head be crown’d 
With many a tower and terras round. 
And here and there thy banks upon 
With groves of myrrh and cinnamon. 
Milton's Com us, 
f See lad page, Note* 
J Without the grot, a various fylvan fcene 
Appear’d around, and groves of living green, 
Poplars and alders ever quivering play’d, 
And nodding cyprefs form’d a fragant fhade, 
On whofe high branches waving with the ftorm. 
The birds of broadeft wing their manfion form; 
The chough, the fea-mew, the loquacious crow. 
And fcream aloft, and fkim the deeps below : 
Depending vines the Ihelving cavern fcreen, 
With purple clutters blufhing thro’ the green j 
Four limpid fountains from the clefts diftil, 
And every fountain pours a different rill. 
In mazy windings wandering down the hill. 
Where blooming meads with vivid greens were crown’d. 
And glowing violets threw odours round ; 
A fcene, where, if a God fhou’d cad his fight, 
A God might gaze and wander with delight. 
had 
