xxviii 



PREFACE. 



The following lines upon winter, addressed to 



the memory of Mr. Thomas Philips, would apply 



to the writer of this celebrated winter-piece : 



" Nor were his pleasures unimproved by thee : 

 Pleasures he haS;, though horribly deform'd : 

 The silver'd hill, the polish'd lake, we see. 

 Is by thy genius fix'd, preserved, and warm'd." 



Chatterton. 



The foliage of the wood begins in early summer 



to exhibit a variety of hues ; greens infinitely 



varied ; but the rich though sober dress of autumn 



is diversified also with yellow, brown, and red. 



" But see, the fading many-coloured woods. 

 Shade deepening over shade, the country round 

 Imbrown ; a crowded umbrage, dusk and dun. 

 Of every hue from wan declining green 

 To sooty dark. These now the lonesome Muse, 

 Low- whispering, lead into their leaf-strown walks, 

 And give the season in its latest view. 



— Now the leaf 



Incessant rustles from the mournful grove ; 

 Oft startling such as, studious, walk below. 

 And slowly circles through the waving air." 



Thomson's Autumn. 



" So when derne Autumn, wyth hys sallowe hande. 

 Tares the green mantle from the lymed trees. 

 The leaves bespringed on the yellow strande 

 Flie in whole armies from the blataunte breeze." 



Chatterton. 



