CHAPTERXII.Beautiful Effects of thewhiteVapour on the Prospects below.Section 71.FROM 28 Minutes after II, till the Balloon had passed over theForestofDelamere, and the steep Crag ofHelsbye-Hill; thin light semi-transparent Vapours, which seemed to be collecting at avast Depth below; moving slowly in all Directions; rising to great Heights, falling, melting away, and again condensing;—(the Land, one while covered with awhiteVeil; thencaughtthro’ Openings for a few Seconds; the Objects appearing more distinct andcoloured, from being seen in detached Groupes and singlePictures framedandenshrinedin fleecyVapour;now againdiscovered by a Glance of the Eye, andthenrepeatedly escaping fromthe Sight;)—wonderfullyheightened the Grandeur, Gaiety andinimitableBeauty of theever varyingProspects.An Illustration taken from Scenesabroad.72. Appearances of a similar Kind are frequent in thenoble and venerableStructures appropriated for divine Worshipabroad: whose Walls are decorated with thefinest Paintings; the Subjects solemn andengaging; suited to inspire achearful Devotion.While the inferior Clerics perfume the Garments of thePriestsofficiating and offering Incense before thehigh Altar; which is ornamented withfull-Length Portraitsin the richest Drapery, of Persons whether male or female, reputed of sound Morals and exemplary Piety; accompanied by Guardian Saints and happy Angels;—Columns ofwhiteSmoke, wafted fromSilverCensers, rise to a certain Height in slowmajesticMovement, before the Eyes of thekneelingSuppliants, who areinstantly shut outfrom theenchantingView; till the Clouds dispersing, shew byIntervals, a Glympse of thecelestialProspect, and of thehigherOrders of Beings, wholook downwithComplacencyupon them; and seemactuallydescendingthrou’ Openings of the Clouds whichappearat Rest.
CHAPTERXII.
Beautiful Effects of thewhiteVapour on the Prospects below.
Section 71.FROM 28 Minutes after II, till the Balloon had passed over theForestofDelamere, and the steep Crag ofHelsbye-Hill; thin light semi-transparent Vapours, which seemed to be collecting at avast Depth below; moving slowly in all Directions; rising to great Heights, falling, melting away, and again condensing;—(the Land, one while covered with awhiteVeil; thencaughtthro’ Openings for a few Seconds; the Objects appearing more distinct andcoloured, from being seen in detached Groupes and singlePictures framedandenshrinedin fleecyVapour;now againdiscovered by a Glance of the Eye, andthenrepeatedly escaping fromthe Sight;)—wonderfullyheightened the Grandeur, Gaiety andinimitableBeauty of theever varyingProspects.
An Illustration taken from Scenesabroad.
72. Appearances of a similar Kind are frequent in thenoble and venerableStructures appropriated for divine Worshipabroad: whose Walls are decorated with thefinest Paintings; the Subjects solemn andengaging; suited to inspire achearful Devotion.
While the inferior Clerics perfume the Garments of thePriestsofficiating and offering Incense before thehigh Altar; which is ornamented withfull-Length Portraitsin the richest Drapery, of Persons whether male or female, reputed of sound Morals and exemplary Piety; accompanied by Guardian Saints and happy Angels;—Columns ofwhiteSmoke, wafted fromSilverCensers, rise to a certain Height in slowmajesticMovement, before the Eyes of thekneelingSuppliants, who areinstantly shut outfrom theenchantingView; till the Clouds dispersing, shew byIntervals, a Glympse of thecelestialProspect, and of thehigherOrders of Beings, wholook downwithComplacencyupon them; and seemactuallydescendingthrou’ Openings of the Clouds whichappearat Rest.