OF SELBORNE. 67 



buried under the xuins of their shattered 

 edifices. When day-light came they were 

 at leisure to contemplate the devastations 

 of the night : They then found that a deep 

 rift, or chasm, had opened under their 

 houses, and torn them, as it were, in two ; 

 and that one end of the barn had suffered 

 in a similar manner ; that a pond near the 

 cottage had undergone a strange reverse, 

 becoming deep at the shallow end, and so 

 vice versa ; that many large oaks were re- 

 moved out of their perpendicular, some 

 thrown down, and some fallen into the 

 heads of neighbouring trees ; and that a 

 gate was thrust forward, with its hedge, 

 full six feet, so as to require a new track 

 to be made to it. From the foot of the 

 cliff the general course of the ground, which 

 is pasture, inclines in a moderate descent 

 for half a mile, and is interspersed with 

 some hillocks, which were rifted, in every 

 direction, as well towards the great woody 

 hanger, as from it. In the first pasture 

 the deep clefts began : and running across 

 the lane, and under the buildings, made 

 F 2 



