LITERATURE. 83 



I felt that it woiikl be madness to decree the destruction of that world, it would be to stop 

 progress in its course, to ask Nature to go back on her own work, to begin it afresh, to play 

 with time and labour, and would be an act of cowardice unworthy of a God. I was thinking, 

 and the more I contemplated the desolation in its ugly contortions, the longer I listened to 

 the horrid slow moan of woe, the fainter and fainter grew my heart. I did not remain long 

 in that immobility. I felt that some solace might be given, that a little goes a long way when 

 it comes from a sympathetic heart; so I went to the land, seized her by the highest summit 

 of her mountains of lapis lazuli ,and gave her the warmest kiss of my heart. I had scarcely 

 touched her with my lips when she began to tremble with emotion, everything living looked 

 at me with admiration, the flowers of the mountains aspired towards me and reddened under 

 my look, whilst the wattle of the valleys became yellow with jealousy and rage at not being 

 able to catch sight of mo. I then got up, and was just going to depart when I saw that at 

 the place touched by my lips, gorgeous and superb flowers had sprung up out of the bare rock, 

 and were there rising before me in all their beauty, all their splendour. I plucked one of them 

 to bring to thee, Atah, as a souvenir of thy sympathy for thy land, as a token of my love and 

 my sincere wish to do all in my power to give back to her the happiness she has lost by the 

 will of Destiny." 



Thus speaking, War offered Atah one of the red tlowers which had been born under his 

 kiss. 



That fiower was the one we all know. 



" What name hast thou given to this marvd? " inquired Atah. 



" I have given it none," said War, " I thought only of bringing it to my sweet child, 

 my beloved Atah." 



" Well, my God," said she, " My adoreil master, my tender lover, let it be known 

 henceforth by the glorious rame of WAR-ATAH." 



