beautiful object : but a fimple ftrait road, like 

 this, over a plain, has a different effect. 

 Tho in fact, it is grander than a winding road, 

 as being more Jimple^ and confiding of fewer 

 parts ; yet as it is at beft only a paltry objefl, 

 and has not grandeur fufficient to roufe the 

 imagination *, it is, on the whole, much lefs 

 pleafmg, than a road playing before us in two or 

 three large fweeps, which would at leaft have 

 had variety to recommend it , and might eafily 

 have been contrived, without lengthening the 

 journey acrofs it, on a trotting horfe, above 



two minutes. But in matters of this kind, 



in which furveyors of high-roads are concerned, 

 we expect beauty only by chance j and when 

 we obtain it, it is fo much gain. 



In our way to Hound's-down we rode pafl 

 a celebrated fpot, called the Deer-leap. Here 

 a ftag was once fhot; which in the agony 

 of death, collecting his force, gave a bound, 

 which aftonifhed thofe who faw it. It was 

 immediately commemorated by two pofts, 

 which were fixed at the two extremities of 



* See this idea illuftrated page 121. 



p 2 the 



