264 Gilpin's poeest scenery. 



commonly, of forest trees intermixed with brusli- 

 "wood, whicli latter is periodically cut down in 

 twelve, thirteen, or fourteen years. In its dis- 

 mantled state, therefore, nothing can be more 

 forlorn than the copse. The area is covered with 

 bare roots and knobs, from which the brushwood 

 has been cut, while the forest trees intermingled 

 among them, present their ragged stems, despoiled 

 of all their lateral branches, which the luxuriance 

 of the surrounding thickets had choked. 



In a very short time, however, all this injury 

 which the copse has suffered is repaired. One 

 winter only sees its disgrace. The next summer 

 produces luxuriant shoots ; and two summers 

 more restore it almost to perfect beauty. 



It matters little of . what species of wood the 

 copse is composed, for as it seldom, at best, ex- 

 hibits a scene of picturesque beauty, we rarely 

 expect more from it than a shady sequestered 

 path, which it generally furnishes in great per- 

 fection. It is among the luxuries of Nature to 

 retreat into the cool recesses of the full-grown 

 copse from the severity of a meridian sun, and be 

 serenaded by the humming insects of the shade. 



