LETTER XLV. 



NATURE S SYMPATHY LESS SUBLIME THAN ITS INDIFPERENCE. 



It appears that formerly trees and plants were happily 

 connected with men in various ways, which connexions have 

 been now interrupted. I neither know why nor how; it 

 would be a diflSoult matter to say which was wrong first. 



If a shepherd left his country for a short time, everything 

 reminded him of it, everything mourned his absence : 



*' Te Tityre pinus, 

 Ipsi te fontes, ipsa hEBC arbusta vocalAnt." 



Pellio has a son born. That gives pleasure to both the 

 barley and the wheat ; they take a touching part in the hap- 

 piness of the lieutenant of Augustus : 



" Flavescet campus arista." 



The sheep not finding themselves sufficiently well dressed 



