232 MEMOIRS OF 



technical terms diminifh the harmony 

 of his meafure, or the elegance of his 

 imagery. 



Mighty fvvay is attributed to the aque- 

 ous ladies over thofe realms of fcale and 

 fhell, which are covered by the fea ; and 

 they are coniidered as architects of the 

 pearly palaces of the fifli. The modern 

 experiment of fmoothing rough waves 

 with oil, is coniidered as their fuggeftion ; 

 alfo various fub- marine and benevolent in- 

 fluences. To them the birth of rivers, 

 from the Alpine fnows. The Danube, the 

 Rhine, and the Tiber, are mentioned ; the 

 laft as flowing through his degenerate 

 realms with diminifhed waters. The fea- 

 tures of that degeneracy are marked ; the 

 race of patriots, heros, and legillators, long 

 iince become fingers, dancers, and monks ; 

 and the paffage concludes with this fublime 

 picture of the prefent ftate of that long- 

 yenowned river : 



Parts with chill ftream, the dim religious bower, 

 Time- mouldered baftion, and difmantled tower 5 



By 



