BARTRAM'S INFLUENCE ON LITERATURE 133 



descended the peaceful stream [Altamaha], on whose polished surface 

 were depicted the mutable shadows from its pensile banks ... (p. 49). 



Two Other passages in Osorio are strongly reminiscent of 

 Bartram. Alhadra soliloquizes of 



. . . hanging woods, that touch'd by autumn seem'd 



As they were blossoming hues of fire and gold, 



The hanging woods, most lovely in decay. 



The many clouds, the sea, the rock, the sands, 



Lay in the silent moonshine; and the owl, 



. . . the scritch owl only wak'd, . . . 



It were a lot divine in some small skiff, 



Along some ocean's boundless solitude, 



To float for ever with a careless course. 



And think myself the only being alive! (V, 39-56) 



One recalls Bartram' s woods and his " celebrated beauties . . . , 

 fragrant Calycanthus, blushing Rhododendron . . . , perfumed 

 Convalaria and fiery Azalea, flaming on the ascending hills or 

 wavy surface of the gilding brooks " (pp. 322-23) . Coleridge's 

 " blossoming hues of fire and gold " bring to mind Bartram's 

 memorable explanation: 



The epithet fiery, I annex to this most celebrated species of Azalea, as 

 being expressive of the appearance of it in flower, which are in general 

 of the colour of the finest red lead, orange and bright, as well as yellow 

 and cream colour; . . . clusters of the blossoms cover the shrubs in 

 such incredible profusion on the hill sides, that suddenly opening to 

 view from dark shades, we are alarmed with the apprehension of the 

 hills being set on fire (p. 323). 



Furthermore, in Alhadra's wish, taken with the preceding lines, 

 one sees Bartram ascending the Altamaha in his " neat light 

 cypress canoe," resigning his " bark to the friendly current " 

 and floating past " rocky cliffs " and " forests " and " high pro- 

 jecting promontories " (pp. 48-9) ; one sees him emerge from 

 under the " shady spreading boughs " of the live oaks and 

 glimpsing the " boundless ocean " (pp. 58-59) ; and one recalls 

 his being " awakened ... by the terrifying screams of Owls " 

 (p. 135)." 



Just as surely one thinks of Bartram upon reading Albert s 

 soliloquy: 



** Also see listing of " the little screech owl," p. 289. 



