THE PAGEANT OF SUMMER 



to the minutest creature in the grass, up 

 to the highest swallow. Winter shows us 

 Matter in its dead form, like the Primary 

 rocks, like granite and basalt clear but 

 cold and frozen crystal. Summer shows 

 us Matter changing into life, sap rising 

 from the earth through a million tubes, 

 the alchemic power of light entering the 

 solid oak ; and see ! it bursts forth in 

 countless leaves. Living things leap in 

 the grass, living things drift upon the air, 

 living things are coming forth to breathe 

 in every hawthorn bush. No longer does 

 the immense weight of Matter the dead, 

 the crystallised press ponderously on 

 the thinking mind. The whole office of 

 Matter is to feed life to feed the green 

 rushes, and the roses that are about to 

 be; to feed the swallows above, and us 

 that wander beneath them. So much 

 greater is this green and common rush 

 than all the Alps. 



Fanning so swiftly, the wasp's wings 

 are but just visible as he passes; did he 



