The pleasing tranquillity of groves hath ever 

 been in high repute among the innocent and refined 

 part of mankind. Indeed, no species of land' 

 scape is so fitted for meditation. The forest at- 

 tracts the attention fcp its grandeur; and the park 

 scenerj) fcjj its beauty; . . . but the uniform 

 sameness of the grove leaves the eye disengaged; 

 and the feet Tvandering at pleasure rvhere they are 

 confined by no path, want little direction. The 

 mind, therefore, undisturbed, has only to retire 

 within itself. Hence the philosopher, the devotee, 

 the poet, all retreated to these quiet recesses; and 

 . . . from the world retired, conversed with 

 angels and immortal forms. 



In classic times the grove was the haunt of 

 gods : 



Habitarunt dii quoque sylvas. 



And in the days of Nature, before art had in- 

 troduced a kind of combination against her, man 

 had no idea of worshipping Cod in a temple 

 made with hands, 



Gilpin. 

 "Forest Scenery" 



27 



