TRnticv a SogwooJ) wftb /iDontafgne 



tiniest little bird, its structure, beauty, 

 adaptability; not even the web of the 

 wretched spider.") Then, without further 

 notice of what the splendid face of nature 

 wore on its ever fresh features, he turned 

 back to Plato ahd Vergil, Aristotle and 

 Cicero, inquiring of them about himself; 

 or he resumed the leisurely discussion of 

 some general human frailty. And his 

 intelligence, as Pater says, " dividing evi- 

 dence so finely, like some exquisite steel 

 instrument with impeccable sufficiency," 

 was not to be turned aside or used in the 

 dissection of those haunting dream-clouds 

 forever hovering near us. 



But the sun went down low in the west ; 

 the shadows coalesced ; a mocking-bird's 

 vesper sweetness rang far, and its tender- 

 ness spread apace with a hint of twilight. 

 The dogwood-blossoms flickered strangely, 

 while on the air a woodsy scent — a dewy 

 m'old-fragrance — increased until there was 

 a hint of danger in it. How long ago 

 Montaigne lived! Where is he now? 

 Far off a horned owl hooted dolefully ; so 

 I gathered up my books, shook my mind, 

 301 



