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nature, the life of man, his deeds and thoughts and 
conscience toward God; and then the natural transition 
to eternal life through what would be a mere illustration 1f 
it stood by itself, but in this context it becomes a recognition 
of the sacramental character of religious art—a tombstone 
really means something true. 
Other instances from these poems might be gathered in 
multitudes. One more shall be quoted for its delightfulness, 
and because a passage from one of Kingsley’s letters to his 
wife shews how his poetry was born from real things, and 
how intensely it was always felt. 
I cannot tell what you say, green leaves, 
I cannot tell what you say : 
But I know that there is a spirit in you, 
And a word in you this day. 
TI cannot tell what you say, rosy rocks, 
I cannot tell what you say: 
But I know that there is a spirit in you, 
And a word in you this day. 
I cannot tell what you say, brown streams, 
I cannot tell what you say : 
But I know that in you too a spirit doth live, 
And a word doth speak this day. 
(The Word’s answer). 
‘Oh green is the colour of faith and truth, 
And rose the colour of love and youth, 
And brown of the fruitful clay. 
Sweet Earth is faithful, and fruitful, and young, 
And her bridal day shall come ere long, 
And you shall know what the rocks and the streams 
And the whispering woodlands say.’ 
Here is the letter :— 
“« Starting out to fish down to Drew’s Teignton— 
the old Druids’ sacred place, to see Logan stones and 
Cromlechs. Yesterday was the most charming 
solitary day I ever spent in my life—scenery more lovely 
than tongue can tell. It brought out of me the 
following bit of poetry, with many happy tears.”’ 
Kingsley was a great fisherman. His letters are full of 
fishing, and though he did not often shoot, he was able to 
hunt and enjoyed it lustily. Perhaps this is strange in one 
who loved birds and beasts so well, and who had such a 
pitiful heart. The difficulty will not strike some people. 
But there are others to whom sport is a puzzle. Sport is 
not quite explained by the plea that most of us eat animals, 
for sport involves pleasure in killing ; it is hardly possible 
