AUGUST. 



285 



true, is nevertheless an humiliating expose of 

 the charmed fairy-rings ; but 



Do not all charms fly 

 At the mere touch of cold philosophy ? 

 There was an awful rainbow once in Heaven ; 

 We know her woof, her texture ; she is given 

 In the dull catalogue of common things : 

 Philosophy will clip an angel's wings ; 

 Conquer all mysteries by rule and line ; 

 Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine ; 

 Unweave a rainbow, as it erewhile made 

 The tender-personed Lamia melt into a shade. 



KEATS. 



Birds are now seen wandering about in large 

 flocks, having completed all their summer cares., 

 and now enjoy the range of earth and air in 

 one long holyday, till their companies shall be 

 thinned by gunpowder and winter weather. 



This glowing month frequently presents 

 splendid appearances in the highly electric 

 clouds. In August 1827, I was walking in the 

 country early in the morning. The sky was 

 perfectly clear till the sun rose above the hori- 

 zon. The country was then gradually obscured 

 by a thick haze, which about an hour after- 

 wards soared steadily but rapidly aloft, leaving 



