8 Evolution and Religion 



and remorselessly as any wild beast, or as the pestilence 



which stalketh in the darkness. The onslaught of the 



unseen enemy, be it prowling beast of prey, or sudden 



sickness, or benumbing cold, or seismic convulsion, 



appears to come preferably at night, a season which 



ever seems to enhance the terror of the visitation. 



What more natural, then, than to deify the life-giving 



Sun who shall chase all these phantoms of the night 



away? 



From out this vast unknown phenomenon, 

 Strange forces strike upon my wondering soul. 

 Rudely impinging on my consciousness: 

 The childhood of our race looks through mine eyes. 



With Persia I am viewing Night and Day, 



Darkness and light, gloom spread o'er earth and sea, 



Dispelled and shattered by the heaven-born Sun, 



An ever new, yet time-worn miracle: 



And in that never-ending, ceaseless strife 



Betwixt the powers of darkness and of hght, 



I witness Ormazd, Ahriman contend. 



With the Norse warrior I feel heat and cold. 

 Summer, then Winter, following in their train; 

 I watch the Sun decline from solstice' heat, 

 A pallid orb, to lie enchained for months; 

 Then on the glorious resurrection mom 

 Of Easter, I behold him rise once more, 

 To gain in daily strength, till all mankind 

 Shall bow the knee and own his kingly sway: 

 And in that never-ending, ceaseless strife 

 Betwixt the powers of shuddering cold and heat 

 I dimly see grim Jotuns, Odin strive. 



With the wild savage I know vigor, blight. 

 Plenty and Famine, health and pestilence: 



