VIS MEDICATRIX NATURE 651 



fathomless Universe, for life and joy, and for objects and 

 knowledge curious." 



Or take part of William Watson's poem: 



" Nay, what is Nature's 

 Self, but an endless 

 Strife towards music, 

 Euphony, rhyme? 



Trees in their blooming, 

 Tides in their flowing, 

 Stars in their circling, 

 Tremble with song. 



God on His throne is 

 Eldest of poets; 

 Unto His measures 

 Moveth the whole." 



But even that is not warm enough. We have missed the 

 substance if the study of Animate Nature leaves us cold. 

 Take rather this from Ralph Hodgson's Song of Honour: 



" I heard the universal choir, 

 The Sons of Light, exalt their Sire 

 With universal song; 

 Earth's lowliest and loudest notes, 

 Her million times ten million throats, 

 Exalt him loud and long, 

 And lips and lungs and tongues of grace, 

 From every part and every place, 

 Within the shining of his face, 

 The universal throng." 



Let us listen to Goethe, at once scientific investigator and 

 poet: 



" Nature! We are surrounded and embraced by her: 

 powerless to separate ourselves from her . . . 



