158 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



comes to the pool quite fearlessly and 

 drinks with long laps of satisfaction. 



Oaks, maples, chestnuts, shade a 

 tranquil vista, lovely now, but fairer 

 still in June, when the ox-eye daisies 

 swept the shadowy dell with their sun- 

 dance and the iris stepped a minuet 

 between tall grasses. 



In yonder arch of spruces, Dante 

 stands carved in stone. The temper- 

 ing mould and moss relax his stern 

 features, set with the vision of human 

 destiny. A glint of sunshine, passing 

 across his face like a thought of Bea- 

 trice, illuminates it, and warms the 

 lips to seeming speech : — ■ 



" All hate abandon ye who enter here ! " 



In truth this one small word is all the 

 span between heaven and hell. 



