n soul, only
can fill it, and the chief happiness of an immortal being must arise from
the same source as its existence. Earthly love leads to heavenly, and
prepares us for a more exalted state; if it does not change its nature,
and destroy itself, by trampling on the virtue, that constitutes its
essence, and allies us to the Deity.

ON

POETRY,

AND

OUR RELISH FOR THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE.

ON

POETRY, &c.

A TASTE for rural scenes, in the present state of society, appears to be
very often an artificial sentiment, rather inspired by poetry and
romances, than a real perception of the beauties of nature. But, as it is
reckoned a proof of refined taste to praise the calm pleasures which the
country affords, the theme is never exhausted. Yet it may be made a
question, whether this romantic kind of declamation, has much effect on
the conduct of those, who leave, for a season, the crowded cities in
which they were bred.

I have been led to these reflections, by observing, when I have resided
for any length of time in the country, how few people seem to contemplate
nature with their own eyes. I have "brushed the dew away" in the morning;
but, pacing over the printless grass, I have wondered that, in such
delightful situations, the sun was allowed to rise in solitary majesty,
whilst my eyes alone hailed its beautifying beams. The webs of the
evening have still been spread across the hedged path, unless some
labouring man, trudging to work, disturbed the fairy structure; yet, in
spite of this supineness, when I joined the social circle, every tongue
rang changes on the pleasures of the country.

Having frequently had occasion to make the same observation, I was led to
endeavour, in one of my solitary rambles, to trace the cause, and
likewise to enquire why the poetry written in the infancy of society, is
most natural: which, strictly speaking (for _natural_ is a very
indefinite expression) is merely to say, that it is the transcript of
immediate sensations, in all their native wildness and simplicity, when
fancy, awakened by the sight of interesting objects, was most actively at
work. At such moments, sensibility quickly furnishes similes, and the
sublimated spirits combine images, which rising spontaneously, it is not
necessary coldly to ransack the understanding or memory, till the
laborious efforts of judgment exclude present sensations, and damp the
fire of enthusiasm.

The effusions of a vigorous mi