262 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1793 



The shadows of life were now getting very long 

 with the old Philosopher at Selborne. On March 4th, 

 1793, he left home for the last time on the proposed 

 visit to his brother Benjamin at Mareland, Bentley, 

 near Farnham. The thoughts of the old man, so 

 near the end of his life, reverted to his childhood's 

 days, when he made this entry in the Naturalist's 

 Journal, which, as usual, travelled with him : — 



" March 10. The sweet peal of bells at Farnham, heard 

 up the vale of a still evening, is a pleasing circumstance 

 belonging to this situation, not only as occasioning agreeable 

 associations in the mind, and remembrances of the days of my 

 youth, when I once resided in the town * : but also by bring- 

 ing to one's recollection many beautiful passages from the 

 poets respecting this tuneable and manly amusement, for 

 which this island is so remarkable. Of these none are more 

 distinguished, and masterly than the following : — 



' Let the village bells as often wont, 

 Come swelling on the breeze, and to the sun 

 Half set, ring merrily their evening round. 

 ■X- -if * * -x- 



It is enough for me to hear the sound 

 Of the remote, exhilarating peal. 

 Now dying all away, now faintly heard. 

 And now with loud, and musical relapse 

 In mellow changes pouring on the ear.' " 



"'The Village Curate.'" 



" There is a glade cut thro' the covert of the Holt oppo- 

 site these windows, up to the great Lodge. To this opening 

 a herd of deer often resorts and contributes to enliven and 

 diversify the prospect, in itself beautiful and engaging. 



"Mar. 14. Took a walk in the Holt up to the lodge; 



* If by "the town" the writer meant **a town," the supposition that he 

 was at school at Farnham, mentioned supra vol. i. p. 29, is without any 

 foundation. 



