7* 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



rather than for its height. Had Milton known it as well, 



he would not have used the expression of the 



" Insuperable height of loftiest shade — " 



in speaking of the cedar.'" 



But do the trees here described by Milton necessarily 

 stand on level ground ? does he not rather appear to de- 

 scribe a steep rising ground, well clothed with trees, 

 showing their heads in ranks ? — 



" So on he fares^, and to the border comes 

 Of Eden, where dehcious Paradise, 

 Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green. 

 As with a rural mound, the champain head 

 Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides 

 With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild. 

 Access denied ; and over head up-grew 

 Insuperable height of loftiest shade. 

 Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm — 

 A sylvan scene : and, as the ranks ascend 

 Shade above shade, a woody theatre 

 Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops 

 The verdurous wall of Paradise up-sprung : 

 Which to our general sire gave prospect large 

 Into his nether empire neighbouring round. 

 And higher than that wall, a circling row 

 Of goodliest trees, loaden vvith fairest fruit. 

 Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue 

 Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed : 

 On which the sun more glad impressed his beams 

 Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow. 

 When God hath showered the earth j so lovely seemed 

 That landskip." 



Paradise Lost, book iv. 



In another passage, too, he describes 



" the garden of God, with cedars crowned 



Above all hills,' 



