Ibotace Matpote 265 



to arrive. Its borders were smoothed, but pre- 

 served their waving irregularity. A few trees 

 scattered here and there on its edges sprinkled 

 the tame bank that accompanied its meanders ; 

 and when it disappeared among the hills, shades 

 descending from the heights leaned towards its 

 progress, and framed the distant point of light 

 under which it was lost, as it turned aside to 

 either hand of the blue horizon. 



Thus dealing in none but the colors of nature, 

 and catching its most favorable features, men 

 saw a new creation opening before their eyes. 

 The living landscape was chastened or polished, 

 not transformed. Freedom was given to the 

 forms of trees ; they extended their branches 

 unrestricted, and where any eminent oak or 

 master beech had escaped maiming and sur- 

 vived the forest, bush and bramble were re- 

 moved, and all its honors were restored to dis- 

 tinguish and shade the plain. Where the united 

 plumage of an ancient wood extended wide its 

 undulating canopy, and stood venerable in its 

 darkness, Kent thinned the foremost ranks and 

 left but so many detached and scattered trees as 

 softened the approach of gloom, and blended 

 a checkered light with the thus lengthened 

 shadows of the remaining columns. 



Succeeding artists have added new master- 

 strokes to these touches ; perhaps improved or 



