et more animated, and equally characteristic,
picture. Thomson's serene morning,

Unfolding fair the last autumnal day,

is also very apposite; and reminds us of one of those soft
and aerial pictures of Claude Loraine, where a heaven-like
tranquillity and peace seem to prevail. Delightful
scenes!--we love to steal a short moment from a bustling
world, to gaze upon landscapes which appear to have been
copied from the paradise of our first parents. Delusive yet
fascinating objects of contemplation! You whisper sweet
repose, and heart-soothing delight! We turn back upon the
world; and the stunning noises of Virgil's Cyclops put all
this fair Elysium to flight.]

At a distance, the reapers were carrying away their last harvest load;
and numerous groups of gleaners picking up the grain which they had
spared, were marching homewards in all the glee of apparent happiness.
Immediately on our left, the cattle were grazing in a rich pasture
meadow; while, before us, the white pheasant darted across the walk,
and the stock-dove was heard to wail in the grove. We passed a row of
orange trees, glittering with golden fruit; and, turning sharply to
our right, discovered, on a gentle eminence, and skirted with a
profusion of shrubs and delicately shaped trees, the wished-for
ALCOVE.

We quickly descried Almansa busied in twining her favourite
honey-suckles round the portico; while within Belinda was sitting
soberly at work, as if waiting our arrival. The ladies saluted us as
we approached; and Lorenzo, who till now had been unperceived, came
quietly from the interior, with his favourite edition of
_Thomson_[424] in his hand.

[Footnote 424: This must be a favourite edition with every
man of taste. It was printed by BENSLEY, and published by DU
ROVERAY, in the year 1802. The designs were by Hamilton, and
the engravings principally by Fittler. The copy which
Lorenzo had in his hand was upon _large paper_; and nothing
could exceed the lustre of the type and plates. The editions
of _Pope_, _Gray_, and _Milton_, by DU ROVERAY, as well as
those of _The Spectator_, _Guardian_, _Tatler_, by Messrs.
SHARPE and HAILES, are among the most elegant, as well as
accurate, publications of our old popular writers.]

The Alcove at a distance, had the appearance of a rustic temple.[425]
The form, though a little capricious, was pict