278 Gilpin's forest sceneey. 



and assumed, from that circumstance, a dark, 

 close, gloomy appearance, in its deeper recesses : 

 though, its opening on the lawn was light, and 

 airy, and agreeably connected with the ground. 

 In the front of the grove stood a rude temple of 

 Pan ; and the lawn, being a neat sheep walk, the 

 whole, though highly polished, was characteristic, 

 harmonious, and beautiful. 



The pleasing tranquillity of groves has ever 

 been in high repute among the innocent and re- 

 fined part of mankind. 



' Groves were planted to console, at noon, 

 The pensive wanderer in their shades. At eve 

 The moonbeam, sliding softly in between 

 l/ The sleeping leaves, is all the light he wants 

 For meditation.' 



Indeed no species of landscape is so fitted for 

 meditation. The forest attracts the attention by 

 its grandeur ; and the park scene by its beauty : 

 while the paths through copses, dells, and 

 thickets, are too close, devious, interrupted, and, 

 often, too beautiful, to allow the mind to be at 

 perfect rest. But the uniform sameness of the 

 grove leaves the eye disengaged ; and the feet. 



