( 57 ) 



poplars of this kind I have feen, are at 

 Blenheim. They are not old trees ; but are very 

 tali j and I believe ftill preferve their fpiry form. 

 One beauty the Italian poplar pofTeflcs, 

 which is almoft peculiar to itfelf ; and that 

 is the waving line it forms, when prefied by 

 wind. Moil trees in this circumftance are 

 partially agitated. One fide is at reft ; while 

 the other, is in motion. But the Italian pop- 

 lar waves in one fimple fweep from the top 

 to the bottpm, like an oftrich-feather on a 

 lady's head. All the branches coincide in 

 the motion : and the blaft often makes an 

 impreflion upon it, when other trees are at 

 reft. I mentioned, among the adventitious 

 beauties of trees, their fufceptibility of motion * : 

 but in painting, I know not, that I fhould 

 reprefent any kind of motion in a tree, ex- 

 cept that of a violent ftorm. When the 

 blaft is loud, and boifterous; when the black 

 heavens are in unifon with it, and help to tell 

 the ftory, an oak {training in the wind, is 

 an objecl of pifturefque beauty. But when 

 the gentle breeze, preffing upon the quiver- 



* See page 21. 



ing 



