HERON, impreffed with the laft
Converfation, was very defirous to re-
fume the Subject, and renew the im-
portant Debate.
With this View,
He conducted his Friend into a Retire-

ment, commodious for the Purpose.

They enter a spacious Lawn; which lay oppofite to the House, and opened itself in the Form of an expanded Fan. The Mounds, on either Side, were dreffed in Verdure; and ran out in a flanting Direction. The whole, to an Eye placed at a Diftance, bore the Refemblance of a magnificent Vista; contracting, by flow Degrees, its Dimenfions; and leffening, at laft, into a Point. Which, the regular

A 2

and

and graceful Seat, with all imaginable Dignity, fupplied.

Nature had funk the Lawn into a gentle Decline. On whofe ample Sides, were Oxen browzing, and Lambs frifking. The lufty Droves lowed, as they paffed; and the thriving Flocks, bleated welcome Mufic in their Master's Ear.-Along the Midft of this verdant Slope, was ftretched a spacious and extenfive Walk. Which, coated with Gravel, and fenced with Pallifadoes, looked like a plain Stripe of Brown, interfecting a Carpet of the brightest Green. At the Bottom, two handfome Canals, copiously stocked with Fifh, fometimes floated to the Breeze; fometimes ftood unmoved "pure as "the Expanfe of Heaven." The Waters, beheld from every Room in the Houfe, had a fine Effect upon the Sight; not without a refreshing Influence on the Imagination.-At the Extremity of one, was planted a ftately Colonade. The Roof, elevated on Pillars of the Ionic Order; the Area flabbed with Stones, neatly ranged in the Diamond-fashion. Several Foreft-chairs accommodated the Anglers with a Seat, while the bending Dome fupplied them with a Shade.

Correfponding, and on the Margin of the other Canal, was erected a Summer-houfe, of a very fingular Kind. The lower Part had an Opening towards the North; it was cool; it was gloomy; and had never feen the Sun. It carried the romantic Air of a Grotto, or rather the penfive Appearance of a Hermit's Cell. The Outfide was coarfe and rugged with protuberant Stones. Partly over-fpread with Ivy, partly covered with Moss, it seemed to be the Work of antient Years. You defcend, by Steps

4

of

of Turf; and are obliged to ftoop as you pass the Door. A fcanty Iron Grate, with certain narrow Slits in the Wall, tranfmit a glimmering Light; juft fufficient to discover the inner Structure. Which appears, like one continued Piece of Rockwork; a Cavern cut from the furrounding Quarry. -Above, hung an irregular Arch; with an Afpect, that seemed to prefage a Fall, and more than seemed to alarm the Stranger. Below, lay a Paving of homely Pebbles; in fome Places, a little furrowed; as though it had been worn, by the frequent Tread of folitary Feet. All around, were Rufticity and Solemnity; Solemnity, never more visibly feen, than through a Gloom.-The Furniture, of the fame grotesque Fashion, with the Apartment. A Bench hewed, You would suspect, by Nature's Chizzel, out of the folid Stone. A Sort of Couch, composed of swelling Mofs, and small fibrous Roots. From one Corner, trickled a pure Spring which crept, with a bubbling Moan, along the channeled Floor; till its Current was collected into a Bafon, rudely fcooped from the Ground. On the Edge of this little Receptacle, lay chained a rusty Bowl; and over it, ftood an antique worm-eaten Table.-On the leaft obfcure Part of the Wall, you difcern, dimly difcern, a Parchment Scroll; infcribed with that fage, but mortifying Admonition; VANITY OF VANITIES! ALL IS VANITY!

Over this Recefs, so pleasingly horrid, and adapted to folemn Mufings, arofe an open and airy Belvim dere. You afcend by winding Stairs; and, coming from the uncouth Abode below, are sweetly furprifed with an elegant Hexagon.-The Cieling lofty, and decorated with the fofteft, richest, almoft flowing Fret

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1

Fret-work. The Wainscot, in large Pannels of
Oak, retained its native Auburn: fo beautifully
plain, that, like an amiable Countenance, it would
have been disfigured, rather than improved, by the
moft coftly Paint. On this were difpofed, in gilded
Frames, and to great Advantage, a Variety of en-
tertaining Landscapes. But none furpaffed, none
equaled, all were a Foil to, the noble lovely Views,
which the Windows commanded.-The Chimney-
piece, of white fhining Marble, ftreaked with Veins
of vivid Red. Over it, was carved a fine Feftoon
of artificial, in it, was ranged a choice Collection
of natural Flowers.-On a Table of gloffy Walnut,
lay a portable Telescope; attended with Thomson's
Seafons, and Vanierii Prædium Rufticum *.

The Whole was fitted up in the higheft Tafte, and
furnished with every pleafurable Ornament. On
purpose to harmonize with that lavish Gaiety, which
feemed to fimile over all the Face of Nature. On
purpose to correfpond with that vernal Delight, which
came breathing on the Wings of every fragrant Gale.
I may add, on purpose to remind the Beholder of
those immortal Mansions, which are decorated with
Images infinitely more splendid, with Objects un-
speakably more glorious. Where holy Beings will
spend,

* Vanierii Prædium Rufticum-A moft elegant Latin Poem: which treats of every remarkable Peculiarity, relating to the Bufinefs of a Country Life, or the Furniture of a Country Seat.- -It entertains us with a Defcription of the most agreeable Objects; in an easy Flow, of the pureft Language, and moft mufical Numbers.

It is, I think, one continued Beauty. Superior to every Thing of the Kind, I have met with among the Moderns; and scarcely, if at all, unworthy the firft Genius of the Auguftan Age. Uni Virgilio fecundus, & pæne par.