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I have dwelt the longer on the oak, as it is 

 confefTedly both the moft picturefque tree in 

 irfelf ; and the moft accommodating in compo- 

 fition. It refufes no fubjecT: either in natural, 

 or in artificial landfcape. It is fuited to the 

 grandeft; and may with propriety be intro- 

 duced into the moft paftoral. It adds new 

 dignity to the ruined tower, and Gothic arch : 

 by ftretching its wild, mofs-grown branches 

 athwart their ivyed-walls it gives them a kind 

 of majefty coeval with itfelf: at the fame time 

 its propriety is ftill preferred, if it throw its 

 arms over the purling brook, or the mantling 

 pool, where it beholds 



Its reverend image in the expanfe below. 



Milton introduces it happily even in the loweft 

 fcene. 



Hard by a cottage chimney fmokes 

 From between two aged oaks. 



After the oak, let us examine the afti. 

 This tree in point of utility, is little inferior 

 to the oak. Its ufes are infinite. To the 

 alhen fpear the heroes of antiquity were in- 

 debted 



