NEBULA TO MAN 
From other centres glaciers southward stray, 
And near Italia's lakes their debris lay, 
For climate here has brought them all to bay. 280 
Whilst thus Helvetia, blocked from side to side, 
Has sent her icy armies, far and wide ; 
Francia has here and there been forced to groan 
'Neath weight of ice, from snowfields of her own. 
Nor is Hispania free. Though small's the share 285 
These two support, compared with lands elsewhere. 
And e'en Helvetia's mighty sheet out-sent 
Is but a patch with what the continent 
To north must bear. Indeed for most part lies 
The whole land there as 'twere a sea of ice. 290 
With half her land thus held in constant bond 
By thick spread ice, and thin ice far beyond ; 
And with keen airs that still more distant press, 
Small charm for life Europa can possess. 
No wonder old life groups that here had been 295 
Frequent no more the inhospitable scene : 
And far through Afric, and in Asia wide 
Are seeking comforts that are here denied. 
Deep down in ice, big forests lie entombed, 
And growths beyond the ice-sheet have succumbed 300 
To air they could not breathe. Trees there of old, 
Kings in their way, are bursting with the cold ; 
And once green plains are best but frozen mold. 
8 4 
