78 APRIL. 



beamed on the small pebbles on the sides of 

 rivers, and on the strands, which looked like 

 beryl, while the reflection of the rays played on 

 the banks in variegated gleams. The bladed 

 soil was embroidered with various hues. Both 

 wood and forest were darkened with boughs, 

 which reflected from the ground gave a sha- 

 dowy lustre to the red rocks. Towns, turrets, 

 battlements, and high pinnacles of churches, 

 castles and of every fair city, seemed to be 

 painted ; and, together with every bastion and 

 story, expressed their own shapes on the 

 plains. The glebe, fearless of the northern 

 blasts, spread her broad bosom. The corn 

 crops and the new-sprung barley reclothed 

 the earth with a gladsome garment. The va- 

 riegated vesture of the valley clothed the 

 cloven furrow, and the barley-lands were di- 

 versified with flowery weeds. The meadow 

 was besprinkled with rivulets, and the fresh 

 moisture of the dewy night restored the her- 

 bage which the cattle had cropped in the day. 

 The blossoms in the blowing garden trusted 

 their heads to the protection of the } ; oung sun. 

 Rank ivy leaves overspread the walls of the 

 rampart. The blooming hawthorn clothed all 

 the thorns in flowers. The budding clusters of 

 the tender grapes hung end-long by their ten- 

 drils from the trelliccs. The germs of the trees 



