253 OF NATURE, 



enriches this lower world. Among living be- 

 ings, lie eftablifhes order, fubordination, and har- 

 mony. To Nature herielf he even gives im- 

 bellifhment, cultivation, extenfion, and polifh. 

 lie cuts down the thtftle and the bramble, and 

 he multiplies the vine and the rofe. View thofe 

 melancholy deferts where man has never refol- 

 ded. Over-run with briars, thorns, and trees 

 which are deformed, broken, corrupted, the feeds 

 that ought to renew and embellifh the fcene 

 are choaked and buried in the midft of rubbifh 

 and llerility. Nature, who, in other lituations, 

 a flu me s the fplendour of youth, has here the ap- 

 pearance of old age and decrepitude. The earth, 

 furcharged with the fpoils of its productions, in- 

 itead of a beautiful verdure, prefents nothing 

 but a difordered mafs of grofs herbage, and of 

 trees loaded with paraiitical plants, as lichens, 

 agarics, and other impure fruits of corruption : 

 All the low grounds are occupied with putrid and 

 ftagnating waters; the miry lands, which are nei- 

 ther folid nor fluid, are impaOable,and remain e- 

 qualiy ufelefs to the inhabitants of the earth and 

 of the waters; and the marines, wdiich are cover- 

 ed with ftinking aquatic plants, ferve only to 

 nouriifi venomous infedls, and to harbour im- 

 pure animals. Between thoie putrid marines 

 which occupy the low grounds, and the decay- 

 ed forefts which cover the elevated parts of the 

 country, there is a fpecies of lands, or favan- 

 na's, that have no refemblance to our meadows. 

 There aoxious herbs rife and choak the uleful 



kinds* 



