within one hundred and fifty yards of the house, and forming something of a foreground to the landscape, are a few large and lofty elm trees, under which many a swain has rested from his toil; many a tender vow has been breathed; many a sabbath-afternoon[167] innocently kept; and many a village-wake cordially celebrated! Some of these things yet bless the aged eyes of ORLANDO! [Footnote 165: "In the wild depth of Winter, while without The ceaseless winds blow ice, be my retreat Between the groaning forest and the shore, Beat by the boundless multitude of waves, A rural, sheltered, solitary scene!"---- _Winter._ One would like a situation somewhat more _sheltered_, when "The ceaseless winds blow ice!"] [Footnote 166: "Flumen est _Arar_, quod per fines Aeduorum et Sequanorum in Rhodanum fluit, incredibili lenitate, ita ut oculis, in utram partem fluat, judicari nos possit." _De Bell. Gall._, lib. i., Sec. x. Philemon might as happily have compared Orlando's quiet stream to "the silent river" ----quae Liris quieta Mordet aqua---- which Horace has so exquisitely described, in contrast with ----obliquis laborat Lympha fugax trepidare rivo. _Carm._, _lib._ i., _Od._ xxxi., _lib._ ii., _Od._ ii. Yet let us not forget Collin's lovely little bit of landscape-- "Where slowly winds the stealing wave."] [Footnote 167: There is a curious proclamation by Q. Elizabeth, relating to some Sabbath recreations or games, inserted in Hearne's preface to his edition of _Camden's Annals_, p. xxviii. It is a little too long to be given entire; but the reader may here be informed that "shooting with the standard, shooting with the broad arrow, shooting at the twelve score prick, shooting at the Turk, leaping for men, running for men, wrestling, throwing the sledge, and pitching the bar," were suffered to be exhibited, on several Sundays, for the benefit of one "John Seconton Powlter, dwelling within the parish of St. Clements Danes, being a poor man, having four small children, and fallen to decay."] I have slightly noticed the comfortable interior of his library.-- LIS. You spoke of a bow-windowed extremity--