442 COLLOQUIA ENTOMOLOGICA. 



across the plain my fellow mortals ride, immortal now : are 

 then the animals of yonder earth admitted here? It is most 

 strange ! 



Sto. Why strange? here each pursues unchecked his 

 favourite theme. Wouldst thou exclude the beast, the bird, 

 the fish ? the hum of insect life ? Wouldst thou hew down 

 those groups of graceful and most lovely palms, waving in 

 measure to the tuneful breeze ? or these delicious shrubs, 

 oppressed with fruit, or clad in beauteous bloom? Wouldst 

 thou destroy the mossy turf on which we now recline ? wouldst 

 still this breeze? wouldst dissipate the balmy perfume that 

 around exhales frovn thousand fruits and flowers ? Or wouldst 

 thou evaporate these limpid streams, that flow like molten silver? 

 Wouldst thou exhaust the delicate air we breathe ? Or wouldst 

 thou hide that glorious sun, a sea of life and light, because 

 such things are shadowed forth on earth ? 



Lep. Ah, no ! and yet on earth we fondly paint our wished- 

 for heaven a scene of clouds alone. 



Sto. Yes ; and they represent immortal man as dwindled 

 to a sprite, a head with wings ! of angels such is their sublime 

 idea! How far below the truth exemplified in yonder God-like, 

 mammoth-mounted forms. 



Lep. Hah! they salute thee ! see! their noble beasts, 



proud of their riders, scarce indent the turf! How do they 

 guide them? 



Sto. Solely by the will ! The riders are inseparable friends : 

 Aristoteles, with the coal black beard ; Raius, a Briton, on the 

 further side ; Cuvier, the noted Gaul, on this. 



Lep. And all so young ! 



Sto. Observe that perfect form, irradiate with light : mark 

 well her mien, and the rich glories of her golden hair : she 

 plucks the tempting fruit with timid hand from the o'erladen 

 branches of yon tree, and gives it to that melancholy man. 

 These have transgressed ; and yet their only doom is, that 

 through all this wilderness of bliss the memory of their error 

 yet remains. 



Lep. How very beautiful, and yet how sad ! 



Sto. Most bright indeed are they, yet pure as bright, and 

 pure, without offence we here admire the vision of such match- 

 less excellence : here beauty is in mind; the child of mind ; a 

 bodied emanation of the thought; itself enchanting, but it 



