THE SEA-SHORE. 187 



side, that add a tender melancholy to our reflections, 

 and cause every scene, however barren, to stand out to 

 the mental vision as a picture, embellished with beau 

 tiful and pathetic images, drawn from romance and real 

 life. Thus do the sombre shades of evening, when 

 blended with the light of day, produce- those gorgeous 

 but melancholy tints, that surround the sun at his de 

 cline. Some of the most pleasing myths and tradi 

 tions are connected with the isles, promontories, and 

 inlets of the sea. All these affect the mind, however 

 unconsciously, with a feeling of sadness and sublimity, 

 while we survey the broken scenery of the coast, and 

 listen to the significant muttering of the waves, when 

 they threaten a storm, or to their lonely surging, after 

 the tempest is over. 



Often on a still evening, when the perplexities of 

 business and study have fevered the mind, or misfor 

 tune has depressed the spirits, have I taken a solitary 

 ramble by the seaside. All that is lively does not on 

 all occasions enliven ; neither does all that is solemn 

 and melancholy always tend to sadden the feelings. 

 The mind, when it needs consolation, craves something 

 that is in harmony with its afflictions ; and nothing to 

 the stricken soul is so saddening as the loud laughter of 

 vacant hilarity. But the plaintive music of the whis 

 pering wave, or the solemn intonations of the mutter 

 ing billows, when they dash with frequency upon the 

 rock-bound coast, are not depressing. Though in har 

 mony with the soul in its melancholy moods, they raise 

 the drooping spirits to an alliance with the grander 

 scenes of nature, and cheer them by this exaltation. 



The Osprey, as he sails above my head, in many a cir 

 cular sweep, utters a scream that is in unison with the 

 lonely music of the sea ; and as the day declines and 



