36 STUDIES OF NATURE 



men that are condemn 'd to be rich, and alwayes 

 discontented or busie. For these poor-rich 

 men, wee Anglers pitie them, and stand in no 

 need to borrow their thoughts to think our- 

 selves happie.' 



While these reminiscences are running 

 through my head I am looking round on what 

 is above and beneath me. The sea is scarcely 

 ruffled, but it swings to and fro with large 

 smooth waves. Lying at this distance from the 

 shore, and with your eye close to the water, 

 how vast the liquid plain appears ! The sky is 

 vast also. There is no brilliant colour to- 

 night. The clouds are grey, or only touched 

 very faintly with amber and green ; but they 

 cover the sky in bands and ranges whose 

 number seems infinite, and the effect produced 

 is that of boundlessness and airy space. Per- 

 haps this feeling is increased by the sight of 

 the birds as they sail slowly round us, rising 

 sometimes to a great height and then sweeping 



