emily could not restrain her transport as she looked over the pine forests of the mountains upon the vast plains, that, enriched with woods, towns, blushing vines, and plantations of almonds, palms, and olives, stretched along, till their various colours melted in distance into one harmonious hue, that seemed to unite earth with heaven.through the whole of this glorious scene the majestic garonne wandered; descending from its source among the pyrenees, and winding its blue waves towards the bay of biscay.
the ruggedness of the unfrequented road often obliged the wanderers to alight from their little carriage, but they thought themselves amply repaid for this inconvenience by the grandeur of the scenes;and, while the muleteer led his animals slowly over the broken ground, the travellers had leisure to linger amid these solitudes, and to indulge the sublime reflections, which soften, while they elevate, the heart, and fill it with the certainty of a present god!
still the enjoyment of st.aubert was touched with that pensive melancholy, which gives to every object a mellower tint, and breathes a sacred charm over all around.
they had provided against part of the evil to be encountered from a want of convenient inns, by carrying a stock of provisions in the carriage, so that they might take refreshment on any pleasant spot, in the open air, and pass the nights wherever they should happen to meet with a comfortable cottage.for the mind, also, they had provided, by a work on botany, written by m.barreaux, and by several of the latin and italian poets; while emily's pencil enabled her to preserve some of those combinations of forms, which charmed her at every step.