remain impenetrably closed for ever. And the flowers sent out
colour and fragrance into the whole world, for they kept not their
best for themselves, but would imitate the sun and the stars, which
poured their warmth and radiance over the spring. And many a little
gnat and beetle burst the narrow cell in which it was enclosed and
crept out slowly, and, half asleep, unfolded and shook its tender
wings, and soon gained strength, and flew off to untried delights.
And as the butterflies came forth from their chrysalids in all their
gaiety and splendour, so did every humbled and suppressed aspiration
and hope free itself, and boldly launch into the open and flowing
sea of spring.




HYMNS TO NIGHT.
(Translated from the German of Novalis.)




I.



Who that has life and intelligence, loves not, before all the
surrounding miracles of space, ever-joyous light with its tints, its
beams, and its waves, its mild omnipresence, when it comes as the
waking day. Like the inmost soul of life, it is inhaled by the
giant universe of gleaming stars, that dance as they swim in its