356 THE AESTHETICS OF 



from the plain, and ascend with increasing frequency ; 

 the wind begins to howl and bluster ; the air glistens 

 more and more with crystals of snow, and, at last, all 

 this becomes one dense, dim mass, proceeds in one 

 direction till; caught by a whirlwind, it rushes round in a 

 circle or rebounds from the elevated portions of the Steppe. 

 This is the " Buran," the Steppe-storm ; long before this 

 the frightened driver has perceived its tokens, and with 

 all the force of desperation lashed his gradually wearying 

 horse. More violently and rapidly the snow-wreaths 

 succeed one another, circling round and confounding every- 

 thing in painful dizziness, every thought of finding the 

 right path is given up, and all must be trusted to the 

 instinct of the horse, which now flies as if driven by a 

 madman, over the plain. Close by the sledge roars a 

 terrified herd, and the passing glance through the thick 

 snow dust, just allows the traveller to perceive how, 

 blinded by anguish, they precipitate themselves over a 

 precipice, at the foot of which their shattered bones whiten 

 in the following spring. 



Every hope seems lost, and death certain; then the 

 night comes on, and the storm begins to flag ; the masses 

 of driven snow sink down and, as suddenly as it arose, 

 the Buran subsides after lasting scarcely half a day ; the 

 atmosphere becomes again brightened by the evening 

 twilight, and the exhausted traveller sees a human dwelling 

 before him. If it affords but little compensation for the 

 toil endured, it at least allows of slumber. A pleasant 

 dream bears the tired wanderer to the Distant home. On 

 the pleasant banks of the stream that glides along there, 

 he strays through fertile meadows evening sinks upon 

 the warm earth. Moist, misty dews rise, refreshing, from 

 the soil, sweep through the bordering Alders, and clothe 



