THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 321 



the aesthetic impression which it makes upon us, is 

 effected. 



First of all we must premise, that no part of Botany has 

 been so little elaborated with genius and taste, as this, its 

 very highest subject, and that we shall here consequently 

 find little more than sadly unconnected fragments. This 

 may serve as an apology for the slighter even than sketchy 

 character of the following remarks. 



The material which lies at our command, arranges itself 

 into three groups, according to the Kind and Way in which 

 plants make their Significance felt. The first is the Sym- 

 bolization of individual plants. Man, so soon as he is 

 rescued from the rudest condition of a mere Hunter's life, 

 is led by the pastoral vocation of the more softened 

 Shepherd, and still more by the civilizing recognition of 

 property in Agriculture, to the observation of particular 

 plants, their origin and decay, their life and their propaga- 

 tion ; finally, their dependance on the favouring or 

 destroying influences of external Nature, referred to the 

 sun, dew, rain and soil. To the man who first awakens to 

 the feeling of his own freedom, who has felt that he is 

 " the doer of his deeds," it is almost impossible to avoid 

 pre-supposing, where he sees Change, Activity ; where he 

 sees Activity, Freedom, and therefore Spiritual Life. Thus 

 at first every plant, every tree, every flower, receives a 

 personifying principle, an indwelling God ; Dryads people 

 the woods, Fairies dance their light circles in the rustling 

 grass. Still more definitely does the symbolizing Poetry of 

 Life subsequently take possession of particular plants, and 

 in Religion and Poetry rich garlands are entwined from the 

 peaceful realms of Flora. The longing after a Continuance 

 beyond the imperfect earthly life, eagerly grasps every 

 feature in Nature which points to such an immortality. 



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