320 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



society of loving and reverent minds, that made it of 

 all places most fit for the autumn of his life, cheering 

 the sense of drooping and despondency that inevitably 

 comes with autumn. All is vanity. 



Rather give 



The supernatural consciousness of strength 

 Which fed my youth 1 Only an hour of that 

 With Thee to help what should bar me then ? ' 



But with this feeling that all is vanity came the consol- 

 ing knowledge that God is infinite, and His love and 

 mercy infinite as His greatness. 



As someone says of our Kingsley, ' I sometimes 

 wondered whether his scientific knowledge had not 

 dulled the splendour and dissipated much of the mystery 

 that fill the world for a poet's heart. A veiy sad and 

 tender look came over his face : then speaking slowly, 

 " Yes, I know what you mean ; it is so. But there are 

 times rare moments when nature looks out at me 

 again with the old bride-look of earlier days." ' 



Linnaeus's life's work was well done. In the last 

 step, which we must all look to, he foresaw the removal 

 of the scaffold he had erected ; he knew that his system 

 must by-and-by be swept away ; but he also saw that 

 the building he had founded was a grand one, and 



would endure 



A column o,f black fiery dust 

 Blots heaven that help was prematurely thrust 

 Aside, perchance ! but the air clears, nought's erased 

 Of the true outline ! Thus muph, being firm based, 

 The other was a scaffold. 2 



Browning, Paracelsus. z Sordello. 



