66 BIRD NOTES 



generally alight there first, to see if all is safe. A 

 rose looked up from below just in the middle of it 

 a short time ago. There is an abundance of buds 

 upon the tree still, but I suppose they will not 

 now come to anything. 



When the wind and rain cease for a day the 

 weather is cold and frosty. A more unpleasant 

 autumn I do not remember. A few roses still 

 manage to open. They look like jewels in the 

 midst of the green lawn ; but the trees are almost 

 bare, and the leaves, instead of lying like gold 

 beneath them, are sodden and beaten into the 

 ground. 



A UTUMN 



' Paga fui ; fui lieta un di.' 



II Ratio di Proserpina. 



UPON a fallen tree by storms laid low, 



Amid the harvest-fields, despoiled and bare, 



Sad Autumn sits. The sunset from her hair 



Fades slowly ; slowly fades the flush and glow 



Of ruddy splendour from the brain ble-crown 



Above her brows ; and one by one fall down 



The gold leaves, crimson-splashed. About her knees 



The tattered purple clings, and harsh and sere 



The stubble 'neath her feet ; while in her ear 



The fateful voice of Winter, heard afar, 



Yet ever nearer, seems to pierce and freeze 



Her shuddering life-blood, and the beauty mar 



Of form and feature ; while the darkening air 



Grows still and thick with horror and despair. 



