A HYMN OF PRAISE 



(From "The Gulistdn") 



YESTERNIGHT, towards morning, a warbling bird 

 stole away my reason, my patience, my strength, 

 and my understanding. My exclamations, by 

 chance, reached the ear of a most intimate friend. 

 " Never," he said, " could I have believed that the 

 voice of a bird should have such power to disturb 

 thy intellect ! " " It is not," I replied, " befitting 

 the condition of man, that a bird should be reciting 

 its hymn of praise, and that I should be silent." 



SA'DI. 

 ( Translated from the Persian.) 



OVERHEAD THE TREE-TOPS MEET." 



(From " Pippa Passes ") 



OVERHEAD the tree-tops meet, 

 Flowers and grass spring 'neath one's feet ; 

 There was nought above me, nought below, 

 My childhood had not learned to know : 

 For, what are the voices of birds 

 Ay, and of beasts, but words, our words, 

 Only so much more sweet ? 

 The knowledge of that with my life begun. 



ROBERT BBOWNING. 



161 



