J 74 



THE OPAL SEA 



Nocturnes. 



Sound of 

 the sea on 

 the beach. 



along the shore. Miles away down the exposed 

 strand it reaches, and even beyond the lift of 

 wreck and reef and island, it gleams on distant 

 bays, on dripping slates and foam-washed 

 beaches. And the dark mysterious shadows 

 that everywhere creep in to offset the gilded 

 high lights are quite as fascinating. There is 

 no more beautiful play of gold upon blue-black 

 than the sea under moonlight; and no theme 

 has so baffled the landscape painter as this 

 subtle " nocturne " by the shore. 



And yet quite as impressive in its way as 

 light and color, even more moving emotionally, 

 is the sound of the sea on the beach. The liq- 

 uid murmur of pouring water, the clink and 

 tinkle of sands and shells, the deep undertone 

 of the breakers make up a bar of music that 

 cannot be set to words; and yet as it runs on, 

 repeating the same sad note, how real it be- 

 comes ! Was there ever such another dirge 

 chanted by the elements ! 



"Listen! you hear the grating roar 

 Of pebbles which the waves draw back and fling, 

 At their return, up the high strand 

 Begin and cease, and then again begin 

 With tremulous cadence slow, and bring 

 The eternal note of sadness in?" 



What a note it is ! The restless one who turnvS 



