OF FOREST-TREES. 335 



depth of contemplation : Non tamen (says he) protinus audiendi, qui ere- BOOK IV, 

 dunt, aptissima in hoc nemora silvasque ; quod ilia cceli lihertas, locorum- ^'^"V*^^ 

 que amoenitas, sublimem animum, et heatiorem spiritum parent : mihi certe 

 jucundus hie magis, quam studiorum hortator, videtur esse seeessus : nam- 

 que ilia ipsa, quce delectant, neeesse est avoeent ah intentione operis desti- 



nati : he proceeds Quare silvarum amoenitas, et prceterlabentia fiu- 



mina, et inspirantes ramis arhorum aurcB, voluerumque cantus, et ipsa 

 late cireumspieiendi lihertas, ad se trahunt ; ut mihi remittere potius vo- 

 luptas ista videatur cogitationem, quam intendere. But this is only sin- 

 gular suffrage, which, as conscious of his error, we soon hear him retract, 

 when he is, by and by, as loud in their praises, as the places in the world 

 the best fitted for the diviner rhetoric of poetry. But let us admit 

 another * to cast in his symbol for groves : Nemora (says he) et luci, et ' Tacitus, 

 secretum ipsum, tantam mihi afferunt voluptatem, ut inter prcBcipuos car- 

 minum fructus numerem, quod nee in strepitu, nee sedente ante ostium 

 litigatore, nee inter sordes et lacrymas reoriim componujitur : sed secedit 

 animus in loca pura, atque innoeentia,fruiturque sedihus sacris. 



Whether this were the effect of the incomparable younger Pliny's 

 epistle to this noble historian, I know not ; but to shew him, by his 

 own example, how study and forest-sport may consist together, he tells 

 him how little the noise of the chasers and bawling dogs disturbed him, 

 when at any time he indulged himself in that healthful diversion : so far p^.^ ^ 

 was he from being idle, and losing time, that besides his javelin and ^j^- }^ comeiio 

 hunting-pole, he never omitted to carry his stjile and tahle-hooh with 

 him, that upon any intermission, whilst he now and then sat by the toil 

 and nets, he might be ready to note down any noble thought, which 

 might otherwise escape him : the very motions (says he) and agitation 

 of the body in the wood and solitude, magna cogitationis incitamenta 

 sunt : I know, my friend, (continues he,) you will smile at it ; hoAvever 

 take my counsel ; be sure never to carry your bottle and bisque into 

 the field, without your style and tablet : you will find as well Minerva 

 as Diana in the woods and mountains. 



And, indeed, the poets thought of no other heaven upon earth, or 

 elsewhere ; for when Anchises was setting forth the felicity of tlie 



U u 2 



