A GARDEN DIARY 205 
most era-making of discoverers, nay, for aught 
I can tell to the contrary, for the seer, the saint, 
and the prophet in their hours of highest, and 
most God-inspired contemplation. 
For the raw materials of inspiration are eternally 
at hand, only invisibly. They are as present here 
this morning as they ever were; present in the 
earth and its green things; in the common 
face of day; in the comings and goings of the 
clouds, and of men; in the changes of the sky, 
and of our own poor lives. The light that is 
gilding yonder cumulus is as capable of inspiring 
great thoughts here to-day in a Surrey copse, as 
ever it was in Delphi, or in Argos, or in Jeru- 
salem. It may awaken just as resounding 
emotions, it may inspire just as great deeds to 
the hearts of yonder passers-by in a dogcart, as 
it did to the Assailants of Troy, or to the Seekers 
of the Golden Fleece. The constituents of all 
greatness, of all poetry, heroism, and sanctity 
are for ever amongst us. It is only the right 
recipients of them that are alas! so scanty. 
And yet, even though we are not quite the 
right recipients, it is well for us that such gleams 
come. Who shall say that an existence which is 
capable of being even thus temporarily lifted above 
itself is not for that very reason a goodly and a 
desirable one? What proportion of discomfort, 
what proportion even of sheer pain, of numbing 
weakness, of crushing sorrow were not worth 
