this circle, where the glafs flowed with wit and focial merriment, friendfhip without hypocrify, and converfation uncontaminated by wretched ribaldry, and noify folly.

From hence, as the hill boldly rifes, the profpect becomes more extended: here, on the loftieft eminence of the Farm, flands in a finall grove, a very handfome building, called

THE GOTHIC ALCOVE.

The fame views are collected here, as before, though with fome difference; Clent hills and the hanging wood are entirely fhut out by a few trees, particularly on the left, which run into the lawn: the objects are innumerable, and afford uncommon pleasure. The home profpect itself is exceedingly entertaining; the ferpentine river twining along the level of the verdant lawn, which expands itself in a gentle declivity from the foot of

this

this brow, tufted with fmall groupes, or fingle trees, and other objects, make it one of the most expreffive and lovely fcenes imaginable. On the back of the feat are thefe lines in old black print.

O you that bathe in courtlye bliffe,
Or toyle in Fortunes giddy fpheare
Do not too rafhly deeme amiffe,
Of hym that bides contentid here.

Nor yet difdeign the ruffet ftole,
Whiche oer each carleffe lymbe he flings;
Nor yet deryde the beechen bowle,
In whiche he quaffs the lympid fprings.

Forgive him, if at eve or dawn,
Devoyde of worldly cark he stray:
Or all befyde fome flowerye lawn,
He waste his innofenfive day.

So may he pardonne fraud and ftryf,
If fuch in publycke haunt he see ;
For faults there beene in butye lyfe,

From whiche these peacefull Glennes are free

The path now defcends, under the fhade of fome fpreading oaks, to another

ous profpect.

feat, comprehending a noble and deliciThe town and steeple of Hales Owen church, over the sweeping fields, again animate the gay diversity : the Clent hills once more fhew their proud brows; the Witchberry wood, with its lofty obelifk, the Priory among the trees, and feveral large irregular fheets of water in the deep valley, throw fuch a chearfulness on the whole, that the eye is never tired in gazing on their charms.

Defcending ftill through a hatch, and paffing a common high road, the path bends under a hedge of tall alders to another feat, fheltered by the hanging boughs, of a majestic beech, with thefe lines:

Hoc erat in votis ; modus agri non ita magnus
Hortus ubi, et tecto vicinus, jugis aquæ fons
Et paulum fylvæ fuper his foret.
Dii melius fecere.

That is,

I often wish'd I had a farm,

Auctius atque

A decent dwelling, fnug and warm

A garden

A garden, and a fpring as pure
As cryftal, running by my door;
Befides a little ancient grove,
Where at my leifure I might rove;

The gracious Gods to crown my blifs
Have granted this, and more than this.
FRANCIS.

Novelty is always pleafing, and the fpectator wherever he treads is certain of finding it; not a bench but marks a ftrong variety, and the genius of the defigner. From this feat the fçene changes in many refpects, but is ftill extenfive, and delightful, claims as much notice, and affords an equal pleasure in its contemplation. A rich lawn fpreads itfelf down to the houfe, fome large trees áre dropped about it, and upon the right appears the hanging wood on a fleep declivity one of the Clent hills above the trees on the left is feen in great beauty, as well as fome diftant mountains more oppofite; Hales Owen, by fome trees running into the lawn, is intirely fecluded, D: 3

and

and to give this fcene a more fimple turn, two or three hay-ricks are scattered. about, which, perhaps but feldom obferved, are a great addition to its domeftic and paftoral appearance.

From hence the path, in a gentle fall, fretches to another gate, which opens on the outfide of the Farm, and discovers a fcene totally different from any of the preceding ones: diftant objects are more; all is fhut out but the rugged lofty hills in front rifing steeply, and rudely irregular; this ground irrefiftibly claims the attention, and it is much to be lamented that Mr. Shenftone was not the proprietor, being fo finely formed for a difplay of his animating pencil: what room for fuch a genius as his !--how sweetly would he, instead of conducting the path down the hedge fide, as it now runs,. have guided it round those high hanging. hids, fometimes, perhaps, ftealing within. their deep hollows among a thousand

trees,