EAGLES AND AET. 257 



suffer, to rejoice, to love, to hate, to murder ! the wise Artist 

 has taught him in his marvellous pictures that these humble 

 creatures he has despised, do all such fantastic tricks likewise 

 " before high heaven," quite as earnestly as he, and much 

 more gracefully. 



It is thus, then, by a loving apotheosis, that all things are 

 dignified in the recognition of the true Art which places in 

 a like, but graduated category of respect, 



" creeping forms and insects rainbow-winged 



And birds and beasts and fish and human shapes." 



It is thus, then, that the Artist wins his power and right 

 from the Old Mother "to do strange deeds;" it is through 

 such processes that the strength and wisdom of the creative 

 energy in him has been elaborated. Now, in truth, the fru- 

 ition of his probation has arrived ! 



"And what if Art, an ardent intercessor, 

 Diving on fiery wings to Nature's throne 

 Checks the Great Mother stooping to caress her, 

 And cries, give me thy Child Dominion?" 



in him, dominion she will have, for we have seen how he has 

 won it well ! 



In his wide and solitary wanderings, our Art-Naturalist 

 has made companionship with the most tameless creatures. 

 He knows through many affectionate remembrances on his 

 own part of varying pleasures they have afforded him here 

 and there, in his pilgrimage, not alone each family, but as 

 well every member thereof. 



Thus he knows the Golden Eagle too well not to recognize 

 its young one too, and because it is called " the ring-tailed 

 Eagle of Authors," that does not make it with and to him a 

 new species. He has watched the dingy and awkward Ea- 

 glet up through all its blundering defects, until he saw it on 

 the fourth year, right gloriously arrayed, go forth on shining 



17 



