The Retreat

Thy Forest, Windsor, and thy green retreats,
At once the monarch's and the Muses' seats,
Invite my lays. Be present, silvan maids!
Unlock your springs, and open all your shades.
Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring!
What muse for Grandville can refuse to sing?
The groves of Eden, vanish'd now so long,
Live in description, and look green in song;
These, were my breast inpired with equal flame,
Like them in beauty, should be like in fame.
Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain,
Here earth and water seem to strive again;
Not chaos-like, together crush'd and bruised,
But, as the world; harmoniously confused;
Where order in variety we see,
And where, though all things differ, all agree.
Here waving groves a chequer'd scene display,
And part admit, and part exclude the day;
As some coy nymph her lover's warm address
Nor quite indulges, nor can quite repress.
There, interspersed in lawns and opening glades,
Thin trees arise that shun each other's shades.
Here in full light the russet plains extend;
There, wrapt in clouds, the bluish hills ascend.
Even the wild heath displays her purple dyes;
And 'midst the desert fruitful fields arise,
That crown'd with tufted trees and springing corn,
Like verdant isles the sable waste adorn.
--- Excerpt from Alexander Popes' "Windsor Forest"

This is where I stayed from Wednesday until today(Friday). We were housed in Cumberland Lodge, one of the Royal Residences in great Windsor Park. The Lodge was begun in 1650, burnt down and rebuilt by the Victorians, and continually added to through the years.

I don't really have much to say, it was a very nice time. I saw Windsor Castle, and met lots of very nice people in my program. I found out what electives I'd gotten and talked to one of my profs. It's gonna be a good year I think.