COLLOQUIA ENTOMOLOGICA. 445 



plumes, — those were to him familiar as the beings of the 

 day. 



Lat. As Raius for Linnaeus did unfold a mighty plan Lin- 

 naeus did perfect, Aristoteles was the first who drew an out- 

 line of the whole, which Cuvier filled ; Aristoteles and my Cuvier 

 wear a first and equal crown in fame on earth. 



(Mane nt.) 



Scene IV. — A thick Wood in Elysium. 

 Stomentomologus and Lepidopteropiiilus. 



Sto. Now, Lepidopteropiiilus, survey this beauteous scene ; 

 above our heads behold the interwoven boughs, meeting in 

 arch, pointed, or Gothic, as we said of yore; luxuriant leaves, 

 in tint and graceful form more exquisite than erst on earth we 

 saw, while luscious fruit in purple clusters hangs. See climb- 

 ing plants, with slender tortuous stems, snake-like enfold the 

 trunks : expanding wide a thousand blossoms, crimson, white 

 and blue, shed the rich perfume on the scene below; beneath 

 clusters the brushwood, rich in fruit and flower; each fruit a 

 ball of gold, each flower a scarlet tube, offering its sweets to 

 the long suckers of those gold-green bees, radiant as light ; 

 and beetles, well encased in gorgeous armour! 



Lep. And such butterflies ! What words can paint their 

 ever shifting hues? what eyes can gaze on such resplendent 

 tints ; and what are those divinely blazing gems ? The emerald, 

 ruby, and the amethyst, the rich carbuncle, and the diamond 

 pure, emitting colourless and liquid light; vaulting they rise, 

 and undulating fall, like a glad company of gnats at even. 

 Tell me, my friend and leader ! what are those ? 



Sto. Those graceful beings to the feathered tribe belong ; 

 their forms are found amid the flowers that deck Columbus 1 

 land. But turn this way, observe those birds magnific, with slow 

 step, of grandeur conscious, coming from the brake ; com- 

 pared with these, e'en India's peacock pales; and hark! in 

 concert all their voices join harmonious, each to each so well 

 attuned, as when the sackbut and the deep bassoon mix with 

 the breathings of the gentle flute, the hautboy sweet, and the 

 loud trumpet's call. (Manent.) 



