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but from their fimplicity, they are often aUied 

 to greatnefs. So efTential is iimplicity to 

 greatnefs, that we often fee inftances, in which 

 the jftillnefs of fymmetry hath added to gran- 

 deur, if not produced it ; while on the other 

 hand, we as often fee a fublime effed: injured 

 by the meretricious charms of pid:urefque 

 forms, and arrangements. 



We are not however to conceive of the 

 foreft-vifta, as we do of the tame viftas formed 

 by the hand of art. As it is cut through a 

 tra6t of woody country, it is iirft, free from 

 all formality in the difpofition of the trees. 

 In the artificial vifta, the trees are all of one 

 age, and planted in regular growth. The 

 whole plan is the offspring of formality ; 

 and the more formal it is, the nearer it ap- 

 proaches that idea of perfediion, at which it 

 aims. But in the forefl-vifta the trees are 

 cafually large, or fmall ; growing in clumps, 

 or {landing lingle ; crouding upon the fore- 

 ground, or receding from it j as the wild 

 hand of nature hath fcattered them. And it 

 is curious to fee with what richnefs of inven- 

 tion, if I may fo fpeak, nature mixes, and 

 intermixes her trees ; and fhapes them into 

 fuch a wonderful variety of groups, and 



VOL, u, F beautiful 



