The shepherdess, as she advanced
towards the chair, paused for an instant, impressed with that blaze of
magnificence which is equally formed to strike every human eye. She
looked round her with an air of timidity and suspense, and then going
forward, ascended the steps and placed herself in the throne. At this
action, as at a signal, the song recommenced.
"Simplicity, child of nature, daughter of the plains, with thee alone
the queen of beauty dwells! What is it that adorns and enhances all the
wild and uncultivated scenes of nature? It is plainness and artless
simplicity. What is it that renders lovely and amiable her most
favourite productions in the animal creation: the tender lamb, the
cooing dove, and the vocal nightingale? It is simplicity; it is, that
all their gestures wear the guise, and their voice speaks the artless,
and unaffected language of nature. What is is that renders venerable the
characters of mankind; that ennobles the song of the bards; that gives
lustre and attraction to immortal, never-fading virtue? It is
simplicity, unaffected simplicity. Of the last and crowning work of
nature, woman, the form is grace; the visage is beauty; the eye sparkles
with intelligence, and smiles with soft and winning graces; the tongue
is clothed with persuasion and eloquence.
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