AT THE SEASIDE. 29 



O'er which, through colour's dreamiest grades, 

 The yellow sunbeams pause and creep ! 



Now pink it blooms, now glimmers grey, 

 Now shadows to a filmy blue, 



Tries one, tries all, and will not stay, 

 But flits from opal hue to hue, 

 And runs through every tenderest range 

 Of change that seems not to be change, 

 So rare the sweep, so nice the art 

 That lays no stress on any part." 



After the fairy vision, with all its positive tints, has passed on 

 and charmed the spectator, there yet remain dim suggestions 

 and half-fancied effects which no words can fix, so changeful, 

 subtle, and evanescent are nature's kaleidoscopic variations ; 

 she fastens on each peak and cornice, each flaw where frost 

 has chipped the rock-wall, each lichen spot which has softened 

 its harshness, and then 



" Indifferent of worst or best, 



Enchants the cliffs with wraiths and hints 

 And gracious preludings of tints, 

 Where all seems fixed, yet all evades 

 And indefinably pervades 



Perpetual movement with perpetual rest ! " * 



If we prosaically ask science by what magic spells these changes 

 are wrought, Professor Tyndall will explain that they are due 

 to the dichroitic action of light. The sky-particles or molecules 

 of light are strewn everywhere through the atmosphere, and 

 while the reflected light is blue, the light transmitted is orange 

 or red. 



There are persons who are satisfied with tamer scenery at 

 the sea-side, who can enjoy Withernsea equally with Ilfracombe. 

 The sea itself is all in all to minds so happily framed ; acces- 

 sories of sand or rocks or inland beauty seem to such people 

 almost impertinent intrusions upon the one great feature. 

 Fortunately for those who must have rocks, as well as for those 

 * Lowell, Pictures from Appledore, Poems, ed. 1873, P- 39*. 



