The sterile spot grows into loveliness under his (an Englishman) hands， and yet the operations of art which produce the effect are scarcely to be perceived. The cherishing and training of some trees； the cautious pruning of others； the nice distribution of flowers and plants of tender and graceful foliage； the introduction of a green slope of velvet turf； the partial opening to a peep of blue distance， or silver gleam of water： all these are managed with a delicate tact， a pervading yet quiet assiduity， like the magic touchings with which a painter finishes up a favorite picture.
The residence of people of fortune and refinement in the country has diffused a degree of taste and elegance in rural economy that descends to the lowest class. The very laborer， with his thatched cottage and narrow slip of ground， attends to their embellishment. The trim hedge， the grass， plot before the door， the little flower， bed bordered with snug box， the woodbine trained up against the wall， and hanging its blossoms about the lattice， the pot of flowers in the window， the holly， providently planted about the house， to cheat winter of its dreariness， and to throw in a semblance of green summer to cheer the fireside： all these bespeak the influence of taste， flowing down from high sources， and pervading the lowest levels of the public mind. If ever Love， as poets sing， delights to visit a cottage， it must be the cottage of an English peasant.
没有什么景物比英国公园的壮丽景色更吸引人了。广阔的草地就像一块鲜明的绿毯伸展开来，到处都是巨树丛林，它们聚成一簇簇茂盛的树叶丛：茂盛的小树林和宽敞的林间空地，有鹿群静静走过；野兔跳进藏身之所；雉鸟突然展翅高飞；小溪流顺着天然曲折的道路蜿蜒前行，或延展成平镜般的湖泊——这个幽静的水塘映出颤动的树影，黄叶静静地躺在塘心，鳟鱼无惧地悠游于清水之中；而一些乡间的庙宇及森林中的雕像，则因时间久远而变绿了，阴湿湿的，给这种隐蔽蒙上了一层古典圣洁的气氛。