EFFECTS OF LIGHT. 418 



broad side of Capstone Hil] visible from my window ; 

 all through the day, indeed, it is a fine object, though 

 only a mass of brown rock with a grassy top ; but 

 sometimes, just as the sun is setting, his red rays 

 falHng full upon the precipitous side, illuminate it 

 brilliantly, and communicate to its ample surface a 

 rich rosy hue most beautiful to behold ; but as trans- 

 ient as charming; for we have scarcely uttered an 

 involuntary ejaculation of surprise, before the old 

 dusky appearance is put on again. ^ 



The sea, again ; — how many of its changing aspects 

 depend on the lights that fall on it ! On a bright 

 sunny day, its sparkling, glittering, ripples break up 

 the soft blue surface with tiny rays, like a plain of 

 sapphire inlaid with diamonds. Fleecy clouds appear 

 in the sky, and communicate a new feature to the sea 

 below ; for their dark shadows flit along and chase 

 each other over the surface, in patches of grey or 

 green of various shapes and sizes. 



Look upon it in a calm summer's evening. How 

 gloriously it reflects, as from a mirror, the flood of 

 soft lustre in the western sky, and the sun itself 

 sinking down that glowing path, like a shield of 

 burnished gold ! Watch till the fiery King has sunk 

 to rest, and the burning glow begins to soften and to 

 fade. How vividly do we see repeated below — 



The canopy of eve 

 That overhung the scene with gorgeous clouds, 

 Decaying into gloom more beautiful 

 Than the sun's golden liveries vrhich they lost. 



MONTOOMERT. 



Take it in another condition. The sky is overcast 



