MEMOIRS O-F 



Galatea there is perhaps a lefs degree ol 

 originality. 



But, upon the transformation of the 

 Tremella, Star-jelly, (a fungus often found 

 in the ftate of tranfparent jelly, after it has 

 been frozen in autumnal mornings,) the 

 Poet has lavifhed fome of the fineft effu- 

 fions of his fancy. It is furely the tranf- 

 cendent paflage of this fecond part of Dr. 

 Darwin's Poem. No eye has fcen, or ever 

 can fee a beautiful Nymph frozen into an 

 ice-ftatue ; but admit the poffibility, and 

 every circumftance of the gradual petrifica- 

 tion is no lefs natural than it is lovely ; nor 

 can any degree of admiration be too high 

 for the beauty and grace of the defcription, 

 It is fuperior to the Ovidian Daphne. 



This Canto now prepares to clofe ; the 

 Mufe of Botany perceives a tempeft ap- 

 proaching, and fhe is led by Wood-Nymphs 

 into their moft fequeftered bowers. They 

 fufpend her lyre upon their laurel trees, and 



bind 



