PART VII. PICTURESQUE IMPROVEMENT. 425 



ing influence of a fresh shower in the spring or summer months, 

 in vivifying the singing birds, expanding the leaves of trees, 

 sending forth the fragrance of vegetation, as well as rendering 

 them more delightful to the eye, cannot have passed unnoticed 

 by those who feel the force of rural scenes. The glittering dew 

 on the gossamer of grass or shrubs — the morning vapour as- 

 cending from the circuitous brook, or collected hovering over 

 the valley — the light summer clouds which denote great drought 

 — the relaxing heat of noon, and the grandeur of the evening sky,, 

 need only be mentioned, to be deeply felt by all those who are 



" True to each rural sight, true to each rural sound." 



These and a thousand other beauties belong to the country,, 

 which happily art can neither create, deform, nor annihilate, 

 and which may be enjoyed by the peasant on his native moun- 

 tains, as completely as by the wealthy and noble in all the 

 splendour of artificial magnificence. Such pleasure-creating, 

 scenes indeed deserve particular attention in a work like the 

 present; as those who cannot enjoy them need not expect to 

 be gratified with any sort of improvement or work of taste,, 

 further than as it corresponds with the fashion of the day*. 



* Nature, thy charms let other men forego ; 



Thy paths of peace, enamel'd all with flowers ; 

 Thy greenwoods gay, where sweetest warblings flow ; 

 Thy wild walk&, where the misty mountain towers ; 



3.1 



