Towards democracy, S. 400

386 Towards Democracy

Matches somehow and interprets the whole of Nature

How from shoulder to foot of mountain and man alike the lines of grace run on;

How, as the Greeks dreamed, in rock and rill divinest human forms lie shrined, or in the wild woods lurk embosomed ;

And how at length and only in the loving union and uncoveredness of Man with Nature may either know or understand the other.

In a ScotcH-Fir Woon

N a Scotch-fir woodWhere the great rays of the low sun glanced through the trees, in open beauty under the shaggy green, Lighting stem behind stem in lofty strength interminable : And the wild sweet air ran lightly by, with warm scent of pine-needlesI heard a yoice saying:

© Man, when wilt thou come fit comrade of such trees, fair mate and crown of such a scene?

Poor pigmy, botched in clothes, feet coffined in boots, braced, stitched and starched,

Too feeble, alas! too mean, undignified, to be endured—

Go hence, and in the centuries come again!