The faint old man shall lean his silver head

To feel thee; thou shalt kiss the child asleep,
And dry the moistened curls that overspread
His temples, while his breathing grows more deep.

Note.

She sleeps on either hand upswells

The gold-fringed pillow, lightly prest:
She sleeps, nor dreams, but ever dwells
A perfect form in perfect rest.

BRYANT.

TENNYSON.

The summer's dawn reflected hue
To purple changed Loch Katrine's blue.
Mildly and soft the western breeze
Just kissed the lake, just stirred the trees,
And the pleased lake, like maiden coy,
Trembled, but dimpled not, for joy.

Now comes a fragrant breeze
Through the dark cedar trees,

And round about my temples fondly lingers,
In gentle playfulness,

Like to the soft caress

Bestowed in happier days by loving fingers.

Now fast, now slow,
The south winds blow,

SCOTT.

And softly whisper, breathing low
With gentle grace

They kiss my face,

Or fold me in their cool embrace.

ELLSWORTH JOHNSON.

Exercises similar to those suggested in Section xxxviii

may be given if desirable.

SECTION XLVII

Sense Impressions received Simultaneously

Sense images or impressions are often received through several of the senses at the same time. A person will see not alone the landscape with its varied forms and colors;

but he may at the same time hear the songs of the birds, the hum of the bees, and other summer sounds; he may smell the spicy odor of the wind-stirred pines, or catch the delicate perfume of the wild flowers blooming by the roadside; he may perhaps gratify his palate with the choicest luxury known to childhood and to age alike, the wild strawberries that show red and juicy among the green grass; and though he may not put out his hand to actually touch any object, he may still experience a sensation similar to that of touch as the soft south wind fans his cheek. Those who get the most enjoyment from nature are the ones who have learned to understand her best and never ignore anything she has to tell; hence to experience this pleasure one must have the senses trained to receive the delights which nature offers. Our best poets have considered it well worth their while to listen to the voice of nature, and as a result they have been able to enrich their writings from her abundant and overflowing storehouse of poetic material. As we read Wordsworth, Bryant, and other poets of nature we often feel a desire to be with them in the meadows or beside the brooks to experience with them the delights which they present with such remarkable clearness and beauty.

As you read the following, note the senses exercised, and consider whether you have discovered so much to interest and delight you in the simple objects which are mentioned as these poets have.

The full ripe corn is bending

Its waves of golden light;
The new-mown hay is sending
Its sweets upon the night;
The breeze is softly sighing,
To cool the parchèd flowers;
The rain to see them dying,
Weeps forth its gentle showers;

The merry fish are playing,
Adown yon crystal stream;
And night from day is straying,
As twilight give its gleam.

From "Summer."

- OUSELEY.

Sweet is the air with blossoming haws,
And the valley stretching far below
Is white with blossoming cherry trees,
As if just covered with the lightest snow.

- LONGFELLOW.

The soft green grass is growing
O'er meadow, and o'er dale;
The silver founts are flowing
Upon the verdant vale;
The pale snowdrop is springing,
To greet the glowing sun;
The primrose sweet is flinging
Perfume the fields among;
The trees are in the blossom,
The birds are in their song,

As spring upon the bosom

Of Nature's borne along.

From " Spring."

OUSELEY.

There's a music of bells from the trampling teams,
Wild skylarks hover, the gorses blaze,

The rich ripe rose as with incense steams
Midsummer days! midsummer days!
A soul from the honeysuckle strays,

And the nightingale as from prophet heights
Sings to the earth of her million Mays
Midsummer nights! O midsummer nights!

HENLEY.

Milton, the blind poet, must have used his eyes to good purpose before he lost the sight of them to be able to call up from memory such vivid and beautiful pictures as he has given us in his poems. Indeed, he seems to have trained all his senses to receive nature images; for all his poetic writings are rich in beautiful allusions to the sights, sounds, and odors

of nature. In his description of the Garden of Eden there are allusions that appeal to all the senses; and for a full understanding and enjoyment of them, one must have received similar impressions and have experienced similar emotions to those of the poet. How rich and full of meaning is the following selection to one who has had his emotions stirred by the beauties of nature.

After describing the river that flows through Eden, the poet continues:

How from that sapphire fount the crispèd brooks,
Rolling on orient pearl, and sands of gold,
With mazy error under pendent shades
Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed
Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice art
In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon
Poured forth, profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,
Both where the morning sun first warmly smote
The open field, and where the unpierced shade
Embrowned the noontide bowers: thus was this place
A happy rural seat of various view;

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm,
Others whose fruit burnished with golden rind,
Hung amiable (Hesperian fables true,

If true, here only), and of delicious taste.

Another side, umbrageous grots and caves
Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine
Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps
Luxuriant; meanwhile murmuring waters fall
Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,
That to the fringèd bank with myrtle crowned
Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.
The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,
Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance,
Led on the eternal spring.

From "Paradise Lost." — MILTON.

SECTION XLVIII

The Influence of Nature

The influence of nature upon those who are acquainted with her is well understood and appreciated by many of our great authors, as their allusions to the debt which they owe her show. The poet Wordsworth, often, directly or indirectly, refers to the influence nature had upon him, and to the great pleasure he derived from the images and sense impressions which he thus received, and enjoyed not only when they were actually present, but many times over through the memory of them and the pleasure which they brought. This he expresses very clearly and beautifully when, having related the effect which the sight of the golden daffodils growing in such great numbers had upon him, he adds:

I gazed and gazed - but little thought
What wealth to me the show had brought.
For oft, when on my couch I lie,

In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye,
Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

From "The Daffodils." WORDSWORTH.

Another time he says to a friend who is pouring over his

books:

Come forth into the light of things,

Let Nature be your teacher.

She has a world of ready wealth,
Our minds and hearts to bless
Spontaneous wisdom breathed by earth,
Truth breathed by cheerfulness.