1 72 The Poets and Nature. 



a city. Nor are they fitly placed on an " air-suspended " ball. 

 For ants cannot remain upon a spherical surface. Their 

 foothold is curiously insecure, and they drop in the most 

 helpless way off places where most other insects walk 

 with ease and safety. 



But there are many allusions, such as Shelley's 



41 The thronging thousands to a passing view 

 Seemed like an anthill's citizens" 



which are both accurate and admirable. Thomson, lagging 

 behind, borrows the phrase of "this ant-hill Earth." 



In its other poetical aspects the ant is " provident," " By 

 careful nature led, to make (in Clare) the most of summer's 

 plenteous day," and " industrious." It is always the " toil- 

 ing" "lab'ring" ant: 



" Turn on the prudent ant thy heedful eyes, 

 Observe her labours, sluggard, and be wise : 

 No stern commands, no monitory voice 

 Prescribes her duties or directs her choice. 

 Yet, timely provident, she hastes away 

 To snatch the blessings of the plenteous day. 

 When fruitful summer loads the teaming plain, 

 She crops the harvest and she stores the grain." 



These lines of Johnson are, perhaps, the best upon a theme 

 which meets with such abundant and just appreciation, and 

 here and there I find passages that treat the insect's pro- 

 vidence with some originality. Thus, more than one poet 

 admires the ant for providing itself in spring with "a house 

 against summer's heat," while others call the hard-toiling 

 neuter a " housewife," and address the sexless thing as " she." 

 Prior notes thus a special and very singular feature of the 

 creature's foresight : 



" Tell me why the ant 

 In summer's plenty thinks of winter's want 

 By constant journey careful to prepare 

 Her store and bringing home the corny ear. 



