Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/33

 Almost as soon as we have fairly quitted Bristol, and stretched beyond the heavy atmosphere of black smoke which generally involves it, we enter upon one of the richest spots of English ground—the Vale of Glocester watered by the Severn, and spreading before us a carpet of unbounded fertility, for twenty miles in length. Centuries back, before the bounty of nature had been aided here by judicious agriculture, the fertility of Glocester Vale was the theme of the historian's praise, and the subject of the poet's encomium. The honest and sensible William of Malmsbury tells us, that it produced in great abundance fruits and grain, the joint effects of its fine soil, and the labour of its hinds; who were stimulated to work, by having their exertions rewarded with a produce of one hundred fold. "In this favoured spot you may behold," says he, "the public highways shaded and adorned with trees loaded with fruit, not placed there by the hand of man, but by the generosity of nature. The earth spontaneously brings forth her gifts, fruits of the richest taste and brightest beauty; which, almost imperishable, may be preserved from the time of their being taken in, till the season of gathering again returns. Grapes, famous for their flavour, are here produced in quantities, and