Spectator 135 



But though there are several of these wild 

 scenes that are more delightful than any arti- 

 ficial shows, yet we find the works of nature 

 still more pleasant, the more they resemble 

 those of art. For in this case our pleasure rises 

 from a double principle, from the agreeableness 

 of the objects to the eye, and from their simili- 

 tude to other objects. We are pleased as well 

 with comparing their beauties as with surveying 

 them, and can represent them to our minds 

 either as copies or originals. Hence it is that 

 we take delight in a prospect which is well laid 

 out, and diversified with fields and meadows, 

 woods and rivers ; in those accidental land- 

 scapes of trees, clouds, and cities that are 

 sometimes found in the veins of marble ; in 

 the curious fretwork of rocks and grottos ; 

 and, in a word, in any thing that hath such a. 

 variety or regularity as may seem the effect 

 of design, in what we call the works of chance. 



If the products of nature rise in value accord- 

 ing as they more or less resemble those of art, 

 we may be sure that artificial works receive a 

 greater advantage from their resemblance of 

 such as are natural, because here the similitude 

 is not only pleasant, but the pattern more per- 

 fect. The prettiest landscape I ever saw was 

 one drawn on the walls of a dark room, which 

 stood opposite on one side to a navigable river, 



