HORNBEAM. 303 



struck with the splendour of the scene, which 

 the dress of the French ladies is particularly 

 calculated to improve; for the gaiety of their 

 costume relieves the sombre appearance of 

 the trained hornbeam and clipped elm. Their 

 light gauze, gay ribbons, feathers and flowers, 

 substitute blossoms; for whilst one seems to 

 display a basket of roses on her head, others 

 carry nodding tyruses of lilac, or waving 

 laburnum ; and with the mixture of poppies, 

 nasturtiums, and sunflowers, with which they 

 are bedecked, you forget that the trees are 

 without blossom; for here you see the gay 

 rank of scarlet soldiers, and there files of green 

 elms; here waves the winged leaves of the 

 acacia, there bows the no less pliable head of the 

 courtier; here dances the jet d'eau in air, there 

 drops to the earth the well-taught curtseying 

 belle; here monsters spout out water to cool 

 the air, while flattery as abundantly sends forth 

 her streams to refresh the vain, in one spot 

 we see the proud officer flaunting round the 

 brazen image of Venus, whilst the opposite 

 angle shows the sentimental dame reclining 

 on the pedestal of Mars or Jupiter. Agricola, 

 a German author, says, this scene gave him a 

 foretaste of Paradise. But when we left it, 

 and entered that part of the gardens which 

 has been lately laid out in the style of an 



