m THE STRUGGLE OF LIFE 47 



what Richard Jefferies sometimes exaggerated, that the 

 physical fates are cruel to life. But how much wisdom 

 have they drilled into us ? 



" For life is not as idle ore, 



But iron dug from central gloom, 

 And heated hot with burning fears, 

 And dipt in baths of hissing tears, 



And battered ~by the shocks of doom 



To shape and use." 



