QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S OAK. 219 



Along the walks sweet-scented creepers hung, 



Tied here and there, their fragile stems to stay ; 

 And after rain the gentle breezes flung 



Such floating fragrance far across the way, 

 As lured the bees from distant fields to stray ; 



A rustic porch, with straggling woodbine dress' d, 

 And blooming roses, made the cottage gay ; 



While near at hand, the plum-tree's welcome guest, 

 Three summers, undisturb'd, a thrush had built her nest. 



In two small plots, with border-box hemm'd round, 



Rare healing plants and choicest pot-herbs grew ; 

 The garden-balm, by village dames renown'd j 



And fragrant thyme, its rich aroma threw 

 O'er mint and whiteleav'd sage, and bitter rue. 



Not far from these the straw-thatch' d bee-hives stood, 

 Where in and out, all day, incessant flew 



The labouring bees, so bent on public good, 

 That idlers ne'er disgraced that busy neighbourhood. 



The picturesque and noble oak selected by her 

 late Majesty, Queen Charlotte, stands near the 

 woodman's cottage I have been describing, and 

 flourishes on the prettiest lawn imaginable. The 

 perfection of sylvan scenery will be found near 

 this spot, and will amply repay a visit to it. 



Perhaps most persons will feel that the interest 

 of scenery is enhanced by its having been viewed, 

 and the locality visited, by those who were emi- 

 nent for their rank, or distinguished for their 

 talent. This was the case with the situation I 

 have been describing. It was one of the favourite 

 haunts of Pope, and where he probably wrote his 

 early poem of Windsor Forest. It is evident that 



