' v. -V ( '5 ) 



the gathering blacknefs of fome rifmg ftorm ? 

 Thus the poet treats it ! 



-As when heaven's fire 



Hath fcathed the foreft oak, or mountain-pine, 

 With finged top it's ftately growth, tho* bare, 

 Stands on the blafted heath. 



Ivy is another mifchief incident to trees, 

 which has a good effec~l. It gives great rich- 

 nefs to an old trunk, both by it's ftem, which 

 often winds round in thick, hairy, irregular 

 volumes ; and by its leaf, which either decks 

 the furrowed bark ; or creeps among the 

 branches j or hangs carelefsly from them. In 

 all thefe circumftances it unites with the 

 mofles, and other furniture of the tree, in 

 adorning, and enriching it. But when it 

 gathers into a heavy body, which is often 

 the cafe, it becomes rather a deformity. In 

 fummer indeed it's bufhinefs is loft in the 

 foliage of the tree ; but in winter, naked 

 branches make a difagreeable appearance flaring 

 from a thick buflj. And yet in autumn I have 

 feen a beautiful contraft between a bufh of ivy, 

 tvhich had completely inverted the head of a 

 pollard-oak, and the dark brown tint of the 

 withered leaves, which ftill held pofleflion of 



the 



