11)13] on The Poeti'y and Philosophy of George Meredith (il7 



nature, the inspinition of nearly all that is good in his poems and 

 novels. 



Meredith's conception of God, the ethical element in Nature 

 towards which man is struggling, but through nature, not against 

 her. Moral evolution in the individual, his chief interest in his 

 novels — the "ordeal" of his young men and women. [Examples.] 

 And so in his poems, e.g. The Test of Manhood. 



His last poems show that as death became a near question for 

 himself he ceased to be much interested in it. He thought only of 

 the human race [in particular of the English], and of their problems 

 after he should be gone. The only poem that he wrote about him- 

 self as he was waiting for death is as follows : — 



Once I was part of the music I heard 



On the boughs or sweet between earth and sky. 

 For joy of the beating of wings on high 



My heart shot into the breast of the bird. 



I hear it now, and I see it fly, 



And a life in wrinkles again is stirred. 



My heart shoots into the breast of the bird, 

 As it wiU for sheer love till the last long sigh. 



[G. M. T.] 



