" But let me to the vale once more descend, 

 And mingle with the wood choir, and join 

 Their various song, and celehrate with them 

 The woods, the rocks, the streams, the hosky hourne, 

 The thorny dingle, and the open glade ; 

 For 'tis not in their songs, nor in their plumes, 

 Nor in their wondrous ways, that aU their charm 

 Consists ; no, 'tis the grove, their dweUing place, 

 That lends them half their charm, that still is linked 

 By strong association's half-seen chain. 

 With their sweet song, wherever it is sung. 

 And while this lovely, this congenial theme, 

 I slightly touch, oh, may I ne'er forget. 

 Nature, thy laws I he this my steady aim, 

 To vindicate simplicity, to drive 

 All affectation from the rural scene." 



Grahame. 



" The heart is hard in nature ... 



that is not pleased 



With sight of animals enjoying Mfe, 



Nor feels their happiness augment his own." 



COWPER. 



" What is man, 

 If his chief good, and market of his time. 

 Be but to sleep and feed ? A beast — no more. 

 Sure He that made us with such large discourse. 

 Looking before and after, gave us not 

 That capability and godlike reason 

 To rust in us unused." 



Shakspeabe. 



