THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE 



explodes in the atmosphere, — these also are only 

 cosmical movements of inanimate forces. 



But what is this delicate shimmering light 

 that suddenly begins to sparkle on the ocean 

 surface itself? Is it the moon rising and casting 

 its shining silver reflection over the throbbing 

 water ? 



Only the stars shine in the heavens. 



It is as though a silver treasure came up with 

 the tumult of the waves. Now it glitters like a 

 display of jewels, and again it exposes a broad 

 transitory silver plate. It sinks and again it is 

 there. Yonder are the green enJerald and the vio- 

 let amethyst of the jewel. It tumbles over and 

 over, moves backwards and forwards, is upon the 

 surface and under the surface. Have the depths 

 given up again the sunken treasure of the old 

 Spanish Armada — or has the sea begun to gnaw 

 at hidden silver veins in the bowels of the planet 

 and whirl the metal upwards? It is the waves 

 themselves that like soda water with its floating 

 pearls are mysteriously penetrated with metallic 

 silver lights. The edges of the waves shine, in 

 the hollows of the waves the light sinks slowly 

 down to a shadow, only to shine again some- 

 where else in a new upheaval. Ocean Lights! 



Again they come, as though all the swarming 



spirit flames fled from each other, — now reeling 



they glide to one side, thrust their little heads 



down, disclose all the splendor of their silver 



13 



