176 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



" an excuse, however, which I believe the 

 " latter could never allege — that of having 

 " been misled by the poets." 



In the above quotation I have selected 

 what more immediately applies to the deco- 

 ration of the banks : the whole of the Essay 

 I have already recommended to the study of 

 every one, who is desirous of forming a piece 

 of artificial water. 



Before quitting this part of our subject, it 

 may not be amiss to suggest great care in in- 

 terfering with the character of a brook. Where 

 the ground and other circumstances concur, 

 the stream may occasionally be brought to 

 spread itself into a little pool ; its indefinite 

 maro-in of alder, willow, and other bushes on 

 the lower side concealing the resumption of 

 its modest channel, till some favourable op- 

 portunity may again allure it from its re- 

 tirement; thus creating a variety without 

 destroying its character. But it should be 

 well considered, before the brook is sacrificed 

 for a piece of water, whether the latter can 

 be so formed and decorated as to warrant the 

 change. 



