The Nuptial Flight 
to be symbolic, of a natural and happy life. 
Observe how rhythmic human existence 
becomes in its useful moments. Look at 
the man who is leading the horses, at that 
other who throws up the sheaves on his 
fork, at the women bending over the corn, 
and the children at play... . They have 
not displaced a stone, or removed a spadeful 
of earth, to add to the beauty of the scenery; 
nor do they take one step, plant a tree ora 
flower, that is not necessary. All that we 
see is merely the involuntary result of the 
effort that man puts forth to subsist for a 
moment in Nature; and yet those among us 
whose desire is only to create or imagine 
spectacles of peace, deep thoughtfulness, or 
beatitude, have been able to find no scene 
more perfect than this, which indeed they 
paint or describe whenever they seek to 
present us with a picture of beauty or 
happiness. Here we have the first sem- 
blance, which some will call the truth. 
94 
“Let us draw nearer. Can you distin- 
guish the song that blended so well with the 
271 
