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the gathering blacknefs of fome rifing 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 effect. It gives great rich- 

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

 often winds round it in thick, hairy, irregular 

 volumes - y and by it's leaf, which either decks 

 the furrowed bark -, or creeps among the 

 branches ; or hangs carelefsly from them. In 

 all thefe circumftances it unites with the 

 mofTes, 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 bufo. And yet in autumn I have 

 feen a beautiful contrail between a bum of ivy, 

 which had completely inverted the head of a 

 pollard-oak, and the dark brown tint of the 

 withered leaves, which ftill held poiTeffion of 



the 



