what appears to him extremely beautiful to-day, may to-morrow strike the imagination in a very different manner; for much depends on the hour of obfervation, and the temper of mind we are in, to enjoy the objects before us. I cannot avoid relating a ludicrous circumstance, that took place, whilft I was amufing myself with wandering about the caftle; and obferving the effect of the scenery, through the huge breach, or broken arches, that looked over an almoft perpendicular precipice, into the vale below. The moon was just rifing in the horizon, when I perceived two gentlemen approach; they feemed to be expatiating upon the beauty of the scene, and in very earnest converfation with each other, one of them frequently repeating parts of Shakespear, which I could not diftinctly hear, with a very theatrical tone and action. But I cannot

cannot exprefs to you how much I was delighted, when, upon their nearer approach, I overheard the theatrical gentlemen propofe to his companion (as he had brought his flute in his pocket), to retire into a remoter part of the castle, and play fome foft airs; God bless thee for the thought, faid I to myself, amidst these solitary ruins, by the faint light of the moon, to listen to the foft cadence of diftant mufick, stealing its mournful melody, on the deluded ear like "founds of heavenly harmony," must be altogether a foothing and romantic occupation for the mind, accompanied with those pleasing sentiments of melancholy, that are better felt than defcribed. Having chofen a convenient fituation, and prepared myfelf for the fupreme pleasure I was about to receive, lo! this romantic difciple of Orpheus, ftruck up the tender air of Corporal Cafey. I quit

ted

ted the castle in an agony of disappointment, and left these romantic gentlemen to enjoy their foothing concert, and folitary fituation, undifturbed. I returned, however, foon after, and found to my great fatisfaction that the coaft was clear: nothing could be more awfully grand, than the fcene before me, which I furveyed with a degree of admiration, not totally def titute of a fuperftitious fear. The vene rable appearance of the whole fabric; walls, and battlements, rifing in ruined majefty; broken arches, half covered by the creeping ivy, and enchanters night fhade, high gothic windows, which but displayed the horrible gloom that reigned within; the mouldering tower, shook by every storm, affording an asylum to the owl, the bat, and the raven, lone tenants of these defolate manfions; whilft the moon bursting from a dark cloud, threw a

partial

partial gleam upon the pile, and ferved, by its feeble light, to difcover the deep gloom of the remoter parts. At the fame time, a fearful stillness every where prevailed, except that it was now and then interrupted by low folemn founds of wind, that feemed to figh amongst the diftant turrets; the intermediate paufes impreffing upon my mind a mixture of awe and veneration, which the furrounding fcenery greatly contributed to encrease.

The poft is going out, fo that I have only time to transcribe the following lines upon Denbigh caftle, with which I fhall close this letter,-Adieu.

UPON THE RUINS OF

DENBIGH CASTLE.

Now fad, and flow, borne far on dusky wing,
Sails the ftill eve; night from her ebon throne
Slow rifing, scatters wide her mystic spells
O'er the tir'd world; and from yon murky cloude
Gleams

Gleams the pale moon, diffufing holy light
Through many a midnight ifle and filent scene.
Much mufing on life's changeful fcene, I view,
Proud pile! thy tempest beaten towers, that rear
Their heads fublime, and to the angry ftorm
Bid bold defiance, though their aged brows
Bear vifible the marks of stern decay;
While fuperftition, with a phrenfied eye,
And wildering fear, that horrid forms furveys,
Affright the lonely wanderer from thy walls.

Far hence thou bufy world, nor here intrude
Thy founds of uproar, arguing much of care
And impotent alarms; behold, fond man,
This feeble monument of mortal pride,
Where time and defolation reign fupreme
With wildeft havock-o'er the folemn scene
In filence paufe, and mark this pictur'd truth ;
That not alone the proudeft works of man
Muft perish; but as this tow'ring fabric,
That lifts its forehead to the storm, till time
And the wild winds fhall fweep it from its base;
País but a few fhort hours-the dream of life

Is fled, and to the cold grave finks man's faded form,

LET