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moon, the peculiar form of the trees, s^nd the 

 dead ftillneft of the night, we were fuddenly 

 ftruck with the grandeur and folemnlty.of the 

 fcene ; nor do I know that my eye was ever 

 attraded to one fo divinely foft and fepulchraL 

 On beholding it, I was fixed in pcnfive con- 

 templation. The trees grew nigh, one to ano- 

 ther, and the naked trunks formed fo many 

 ftately pillars, fupporting their palmated fum- 

 mits, which, (Iretching to reeet each other^ 

 aiTumed the femblance of extenfive aifles 

 of Gothic arches. The whifpering breeze 

 gently v/aved the leaves in foothing undu- 

 lation, while the deep and dark fhading fo- 

 liage ftiut out the filver moon-beams, leav- 

 ing only an occafional folitary ray, to fteal 

 in here and there, at partial openings, to in- 

 creafe the intereft and relieve the plaintive, 

 gloom, A contemplative mind could not fail 

 to be enamoured with the foft melancholy of 

 the fcene. It produced a kind of folemn., and 

 tender enchantment ; the effeft of which was 

 highly increafed from the broad fea appearing 

 below the grove, whofe waters, in all the ftill- 

 nefs of night, bearing the trembling beams of 

 the moon upon their furface, m*oved in gen- 

 tle murmurs to the fliore, and broke in whif- 



