HENRY DAVID THOREAU 275 



to go on the first and hold back the bough of the rose-tree. And 

 through this wilderness there tumbles a loud rushing stream, which 

 is halted at last in the lowest corner of the garden, and then tossed 

 up in the fountain by the side of the simple alcove. This is all. 

 Never for an instant will the people of Damascus attempt to 

 separate the idea of bliss from these wild gardens and rushing 

 waters. Eothen. 



A>f EANWHILE my beans, the length of whose rows, added HENRY 

 *** together, was seven miles already planted, were impatient THOREA 

 to be hoed, for the earliest had grown considerably before the (1817-1862). 

 latest were in the ground ; indeed, they were not easily to be put 

 off. What was the meaning of this so steady and self-respecting, 

 this small Herculean labour, I knew not. I came to love my 

 rows, my beans, though so many more than I wanted. They 

 attached me to the Earth, and so I got strength like Antceus. 

 But why should I raise them ? Only Heaven knows. This was 

 my curious labour all summer, to make this portion of the 

 Earth's surface, which had yielded only cinquefoil, blackberries, 

 johnswort, and the like, before, sweet wild fruits and pleasant 

 flowers, produce instead this pulse ? What shall I learn of beans 

 or beans of me? I cherish them, I owe them, early and late I 

 have an eye to them, and this is my day's work. It is a fine 

 broad leaf to look on. My auxiliaries are the dews and rains, 

 which water this dry soil, and what fertility is in the soil itself, 

 which for the most part is lean and effete. My enemies are 

 worms, cool days, and most of all woodchucks. The last have 

 nibbled for me a quarter of an acre clean. But what right had I 

 to oust johnswort and the rest, and break up their ancient herb- 

 garden. Walden. 



J 



E me suis toujours plu a chercher dans la nature exterieure et CHARLES 



visible des exemples et des metaphores qui me servissent a , 



, . . i . 1, -, i (1821-1867). 



caractenser les jouissances et les impressions d'un ordre spirituel. 



Je reve a ce que me faisait eprouver la poesie de Madame Valmore 



