THE GARDENS OF THE SEA 45 



and they roared to and fro above the 

 marshy waste, disputing its possession. 

 Upon their hill the Twelve Months sat 

 in council to hear the tale of strife. 

 December smoothed his frosty beard, 

 leaned on his staff, and issued the 

 decree: "These lands, henceforth, 

 shall belong to no one. They shall 

 be desired but yet debatable ; yield- 

 ing no crop but beauty, they shall 

 be the gardens of the sea. Both land 

 and sea shall blend their strength in 

 their creation : the land-breeze sowing 

 abroad a myriad seeds, the sea-breeze 

 lending its fertile breath to quicken 

 them. The sun and mist shall dye the 

 coarse, rank grass with richest colours, 

 and from the slime breed dragon-flies 

 with painted wings, while birds of 

 passage shall be sentinels and keep 

 their watch throughout the year. If 

 man shall till the marshes, then the sea 



