150 



the lights and shadows would have the 

 same broken and disjointed effect as the 

 objects themselves: and if to this were 

 added any harsh contrast, such as clumps 

 of firs, and white buildings, the irritation 

 would be greatly increased. In all these 

 cases, the eye, instead of reposing on one 

 broad, connected whole, is stopt and ha- 

 rassed by little disunited, discordant parts. 

 I of course suppose the sun to act on these 

 different objects with equal splendour; for 

 there are some days, when the whole sky 

 is so full of jarring lights, that the shadiest 

 groves and avenues hardly preserve their 

 solemnity ; and there are others, when the 

 atmosphere, like the last glazing of a pic 7 

 ture, softens into mellowness, whatever i$ 

 crude throughout the landscape. 



This is peculiarly the effect of twilight*; 



* Milton, whose eyes seem to have been most sensibly 

 affected by every accident and gradation of light, (and that 

 possibly in a great degree from the weakness, and conse- 

 quently the irritability of those organs) speaks always of 

 twilight with peculiar pleasure. He has even reversed 



