ang on Epicur its. Oct.” 232 
have seen it and am able to describe it, since I sure 
veyed it this morning with Epicurus himself, who 
deigned to visit me in an airy dream. 
For my sieep 
« Was airy light, from pure digéstion bred 
“ And temperate vapours bland, which th’ only soung 
“ Of leavesand fuminy rills, ‘Aurora’ s fan 
“Lightly dispers’d, and the thrill matin song 
“ Of birds on every bough ;”——-— 
’ f had walked out earlier than usual at the fra- 
grant, cool, and pleasant time when every herb, 
and fruit, and flower was glistening with dew. 
A charming stillnefs animated by the music of the 
groves inclined me to the most chearful and pleasing 
contemplation of the beauties of nature, and when 
the Sun began to beam more fiercely on me than 
was agreeable, I retired to the fhade of my summer 
house, and seated myself on a torse of straw in the 
niche ef Epicurus, which I had chosen by accident. 
I was tired, and soon afterward I fell asleep. The 
Jast sound I heard in sweetly descending into the 
arms of the papaverous power, was the twittering of 
the swallow. Ah how delightful was ‘this mid-way 
hovering between the worlds of activity and rest ! 
Ah how delightful and happy were it to believe 
this to be an authentic emblem of approaching death 
te him who has not lived invain! I dreamt, and I 
saw as ] though: adva:.cing towards me on the ver- 
dant meadow near the obelisk dedicated to the ge- 
nins of ancient times, a venerable old man leaning on 
a staff that seemed to be oj maple. 
> His mantle was white, and app-ared tobe of the fis . 
nest.woollen, Sweetly smiliog and placid was his” 
: eee Sn ea 
at 
’ 
