254 Natural Theology. 



tified almost every language. There is force and 

 beauty even in the language of the savage borrowed 

 from natural objects. When the poet would sing 

 of the Indians' legends and traditions he repeats 

 them as he heard them from the lips of Nawadaha, 

 as he found them 



"In the bird's nest of the forest, 

 In the lodges of the beaver, 

 In the hoof-prints of the bison, 

 In the eyry of the eagle." 



All along the stream of ancient song the beauties 

 of the natural world are set in thick and sweet pro- 

 fusion, not gathered into clusters, but adding to the 

 richness of the poetic imagery as flowers deck the 

 meadows. And the soft numbers seem to flow like 

 crystal streams reflecting the nodding verdure on 

 their grassy banks. How beautifully are they 

 braided into song as a chaplet for the tomb of the 

 Grecian poet. 



" Ye evergreens, around the tomb 



Of Sophocles your osiers braid, 

 And ivy, spread thy pensive gloom 



To form above the bard a shade. 

 And intertwine the blushing rose 



And gentle vine your leaves among. 

 Thus gemmed with beauty shall your boughs 



Prove emblems of his graceful song." 



Poems in our own language speak as plainly of the 

 power of the natural world to delight man by dis- 



