BIRDS AND POETS. 
153 
perfect here ! Even as poetry is to us the higher language 
of our highest — i. e. our angelic nature — so, with this Matron 
Sister of the stars, is this Poetry the higher expression of 
the strong and beautiful in her. 
Furthermore, as in our case, it matters not whether this 
expression speak outwardly through the heart, the blood, or 
the brain, so it be the most purely creative and perfect of its 
kind, it is yet our Poetry — exalted just in proportion as the 
brain — chief organ of the soul — has worked it forth. So 
with her — ^it boots not whether sunset, waters, clouds, herbs, 
creeping things, beasts or Birds be her language — each con- 
dition is the expression of the Soul of action in her, and is, 
in its highest revelations, her Poetry — and as Birds embody 
the purest graces of this action, they are her most elevated 
articulations ! 
Is not this fairly demonstrated Should they not seem 
to us the sublimest voices of her worship, lifted up on wings 
towards God, and be therefore sacred from all wantonness ? 
Should they not thus be taken closely to our hearts because 
they not only so clearly speak to us of the Soul in her, but 
as distinctly symbolize our own Souls ? for is it not from 
their swift aerial movements and melodious tones we gather 
all the images and language of the Spiritual Life ? In short, 
are not Birds the clearest, loftiest strain of the Earth's 
Poetry — the most perfect allegories of the life to come — ■ 
the finest Anti-types of the noblest aspirations of the life 
that is ? 
Though man has, in common with the elephant, sagacity 
— with the horse, generous activity — with the lion, magnani- 
mous courage — yet, only in common with the Bird hath he 
wings, or rendereth up his heart on high in singing. But, 
even as Anti-types of the physical virtues. Birds are the high- 
est expression, and therefore the Heroic Poetry. 
The traits enumerated above, in connexion with brutes, 
are those of subordinates, of such as^ sword in hand, lead 
columns crashing in the onset, or mount first "the imminent 
