76 AUTtJMNAL LEAVES. 



which lie around might perhaps, at some time, 

 have suggested to him his lines on Autumn and 

 have brought up the image of 



*. . . These fading leaves, 

 That with their rich variety of hues 

 Make yonder forest in the slanting sun 

 So beautiful. . . .' 



Instead of looking with melancholy eye upon 

 the temporary decay indicated by the falling leaf, 

 the poet saw beauty in the process itself, and 

 gathered hope from the symbol represented by 

 the natural transformation which it wrought. 

 * To me they show ' (' the beauties of the autumnal 

 year 5 ), he says in lines which follow those already 

 quoted : 



' The calm decay of Nature when the mind 

 Retains its strength, and in the languid eye 

 Religion's holy hope kindles a joy 

 That makes old age look lovely.' 



Beautiful to the eye as is the calm (but only 

 transient) decay of Nature as seen in the fading 

 if that be fading which glows with brilliant 

 colour of the leaf, the final fall and disintegration 

 of the parts of the late green and glossy foliage 

 oE summer are but the forerunners of new and 



