66 THE YOEKSHIRB CAVES. 



as the history of cave exploration in Europe shews that the 

 additions to our knowledge of the past, acquired by its means, 

 have been neither few nor insignificant, nor in one line of enquiry 

 only, so a wide and rich field of investigation still lies before the 

 cave hunter in eastern countries, by a careful examination of 

 which, he may yet hope to recover from the grasp of oblivion 

 some further knowledge of the infancy and early culture of man- 

 kind, in the very birthplace and pathway of the nations. 



yet we trust that somehow good 



Will be the final goal of ill, 



To pangs of nature, sius of will, 

 Defects of doubt, and taints of blood ; 



The wish, that of the living whole, 



No life may fail beyond the grave, 



Derives it not from what we have 

 The likest God within the soul ? 



Are God and Nature then at strife, 



That Nature lends such evil dreams ? 



So careful of the type she seems, 

 So careless of the single life. 



So careful of the type ? but no. 

 From scarped cliff and quarried stone. 

 She cries, " A thousand types are gone, 



" I care for nothing, all shall go. 



"Thou makest thine appeal to me, 



" I bring to life, I bring to death ; 



" The spirit does but mean the breath ; 

 " I know no more," and he, shall he, 



Man her last work, who seemed so fair. 

 Such splendid purpose in his eyes, 

 Who rolled the psalm to wintry skies. 



Who built him fanes of fruitless prayer, 



Who trusted God was love indeed, 



And love Creation's final law — 



Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw — 

 With ravine shriek'd against his creed — 



