AT NATURAL BRIDGE 245 



worlcl, but having its lower slopes touched 

 with an exquisite half-light, which produced 

 a kind of prismatic effect upon the freshly 

 green foliage. It was an enchanting spec- 

 tacle and a delightful hour. Now my eye 

 settled upon the ravine and the brook, now 

 upon the arch of the bridge, now upon the 

 hills beyond. And now, as I continued to 

 look, the particulars fell into place, — drop- 

 ping in a sense out of sight, — and the 

 scene became one. By and by the light in- 

 creased upon the broad precipitous face of 

 the mountain, softness and beauty inexpres- 

 sible, while the remainder of the landscape 

 lay in deep shadow. 



I fell to wondering, at last, what it is that 

 constitutes the peculiar attractiveness of a 

 limited view — limited in breadth, not in 

 depth — as compared with a panorama of 

 half the horizon. The only answer I gave 

 myself was that, for the supreme enjoyment 

 of beauty, the eye must be at rest, satisfied, 

 with no temptation to wander. We are 

 finite creatures with infinite desires. The 

 sight must go far, — to the rim of the world, 

 or to some grand interposing object so re- 

 mote as to be of itself a natural and satisfy- 



