trees, obfcure, and fhady, collecting in its mazes thofe objects, the moft diftinguishable from the diftant country, and att length fall into that recefs, which now gives every fpectator fo much pleasure !.. The taste of the defigner, however, never fhewed itself in ftronger colours, notwithstanding he was debarred from executing it in the manner he probably would have done, than in the contrast between the above-mentioned recess, and the rough uncultivated one preceding he very well knew that to furprize, was to please, and to ftart from one extreme to another, would have the effect he intended: I apprehend it is impoffible for any man of taste not to mark this ftrong exertion of fancy, when he has obferved the plainness of the path, even to neglect, by the hedge fide, the rude wilderness of alders, ash, and hazles, equally as wild, and finds himself in THE THE LOVERS WALK. From dull obfcurity and gloom, the fcene in a moment changes into chearfulness and beautý; not into a ftaring wild expanfe, but to a lovely recefs, where one wishes to faunter, to contemplate, and to reft. At the foot of the firft feat begins a water fo chequered with variety, that its form is never to be traced: on one fide, a noble clump of beech trees, on the swelling banks of the fiream, rear their fmooth filver trunks, and their embracing arms, adorned with the moft lively green, hanging in the water, is fingularly interesting: a small island covered with thin trees, ftands folitary in front; and an opening among the branches of fome oaks, juft lets in a house, over the valley, at about two miles diftance: this is very applica bly termed the Lovers Walk; all is quiet and ferene, fave the murmuring of a rill, which fooths and fills the mind with a pleafing contemplation: The The walk continues close by the banks of the water, and waves to another feat, without any infeription, which takes in Hales Owen. fteeple, in perfpective, and the rich rifing country beyond, through a light opening of fine branching trees; and a little farther another bench presents itself with these lines. Nerine Galatea, thymo mihi dulcior Hybla, That is, O Galatea nymph than fwans more bright, WARTON. No diftant view from hence is taken in. The water again changes its form into a winding rivulet, and at length dwindles into a fmall ftream, which meanders carelessly carelessly down from the hill above, fometimes in abrupt falls, fometimes fmooth, chirping its mazy way into the body of the pool. The reclufe path from hence gently rifes near the margin of the rill, under the umbrage of the copfe, and creeps between the thinly fcattered trees, fome tall and ftraight, others crooked and old, flanting o'er the babbling current, and quivering in the breeze; all is deep retirement, but chearful; and the urn, which stands in a fequeftered folitary angle, adds to the native gloom. This urn is richly gilt, and placed' here in remembrance of Mifs Dolman, a near relation of Mr. Shenftone's, whom he had a great regard for. It is thus infcribed: PERAMABILI SUÆ CONSOBRINÆ M. D. That is, To his most amiable Cousin M. D. On On another fide, AH MARIA! PUELLARUM ELEGANTISSIMA AH FLORE, VENUSTATIS ABREPTA HEU QUANTO MINUS EST MAMINISSE. That is, Ah Maria! The most elegant of maidens: The bloom of beauty. How much lefs pleasure there is in furviving The walk now begins to rife, and meetswith a feat, which looks through an opening of the copfe, to a part of the house among the trees; and over it the Clent hills in a very pleafing perspective : a little |