NEBULA TO MAN 
And south, till lost to view, is land extending 
Through polar seas, with mild airs still befriending 535 
Green plains and vales ; scenes not as yet laid low 
To fruitless waste, in constant ice and snow. 
Back to Europa come we, where the sea 
Has somewhat lost its late wide mastery. 
For here upheaval has to rescue come, 540 
And lands are rising from their briny tomb. 
Chalk beds are bulging up above the main, 
Slowly to stretch in long unbroken chain 
From where stand Britain's limestone cliffs to-day 
Right to the heart of Asia far away. 545 
A higher plant-life now has reached her shores 
Through perils of the deep and hard fought wars. 
Some sturdy oaks stand king-like here and there, 
Close kin to those the western hemisphere 
Possesses. Fig-trees, walnuts bloom around, 5 50 
Hollies, sweet-gums, banksias grace the ground. 
How to Europa found they their long way ? 
Was it by that continuous land that lay 
Greenland connecting with Scandinavia ? 
A pathway which to-day is sunken land, 555 
Save where the Faroe Isles and Iceland stand. 
Some did perchance. Still sea may prove no bar 
To seeds of many plants to spread afar. 
98 
