49 



Matthew Arnold thus regrets the old illusion : 



And you, ye stars ! 



You too once lived 



You too moved joyfully 



Among august companions 



In an older world, peopled by Gods, 



In a mightier order, 



The radiant, rejoicing, intelligent Sons of Heaven! 



Bat now you kindle 



Your lonely, cold shining lights, 



Unwilling lingerers 



In the heavenly wilderness, 



For a younger, ignoble world. 



And renew by necessity, 



Night after night your courses, 



Above a race you know not, 

 Uncaring and undelighted 1 . 



Of the origin of energy we have not solved the 

 riddle, we have given it up ; but instead of coming 



1 And Goethe : 



"Wie Himmelskrafte auf und nieder steigen 

 Und sich die goldnen Eimer reichen ! 

 Mit segenduftenden Schwingen 

 Voni Hirnmel durch die Erde dringen, 

 Harmonisch all das All durchklingen." Faust i. i. 1. 

 In many of the older poets the same motive is found. 

 Vaughan, a contemporary of Harvey, says: 



"And round beneath it Time in houres, dayes, yeares, 

 Driven by the spheres 

 Like a vast shadow moved." 



The only celestial messenger who has discussed this matter 

 with mankind was something of an obscurantist. Vid. Para- 

 dise Lost, Bk. VIIL 



A. 4 



