Caliban, and his business was to realise this subject-matter for us in such
a way that it could not possibly escape us in vague generalisation. Its
appeal to our perceptions must be irresistible. He can do it only by the
perfect choice of words, thus:

I'll show thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries;
I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough.

* * * * *

I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;
And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts;
Show thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how
To snare the nimble marmoset; I'll bring thee
To clustering filberts and sometimes I'll get thee
Young scamels from the rock.

Every word sings with life, and the whole passage shows perfectly the
function of words in poetry. The peculiar delight which we get from such a
passage as this comes, I think, apart from its fundamental poetic quality,
from the fact that the subject-matter is of such general interest as
constantly to tempt incomplete perception to inadequate expression.
Consequently when we get an expression which is complete our pleasure has
an added surprise. "Show thee a _jay's_ nest"; it is strangely simple,
but it is revelation. Or let us take a case where the subject-matter is one
of the emotions of which we have spoken; the emotion that marks the pity of
parting at death:

I am dying, Egypt, dying: