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romances。 Just listen to him
〃It was a garden still beyond all price； Even yet it was a place of
paradise； And here were coral bowers； And grots of madrepores； And
banks of sponge； as soft and fair to eye As e'er was mossy bed Whereon
the wood…nymphs lie With languid limbs in summer's sultry hours。 Here；
too； were living flowers； Which； like a bud compacted； Their purple cups
contracted； And now in open blossom spread； Stretch'd； like green anthers；
many a seeking head。 And arborets of jointed stone were there； And plants
of fibres fine as silkworm's thread； Yea； beautiful as mermaid's golden hair
Upon the waves dispread。 Others that； like the broad banana growing；
Raised their long wrinkled leaves of purple hue； Like streamers wide
outflowing。' … KEHAMA； xvi。 5。
〃A hundred times you might fancy you saw the type； the very
original of this description； tracing； line by line； and image by image； the
details of the picture； and acknowledging； as you proceed； the minute
truthfulness with which it has been drawn。 For such is the loveliness of
nature in these secluded reservoirs； that the accomplished poet； when
depicting the gorgeous scenes of Eastern mythology … scenes the wildest
and most extravagant that imagination could paint … drew not upon the
resources of his prolific fancy for imagery here； but was well content to
jot down the simple lineaments of Nature as he saw her in plain； homely
England。
〃It is a beautiful and fascinating sight for those who have never seen
it before； to see the little shrubberies of pink coralline … 'the arborets of
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jointed stone' … that fringe those pretty pools。 It is a charming sight to
see the crimson banana…like leaves of the Delesseria waving in their
darkest corners； and the purple fibrous tufts of Polysiphonia and
Ceramia； 'fine as silkworm's thread。' But there are many others which
give variety and impart beauty to these tide…pools。 The broad leaves of
the Ulva； finer than the finest cambric； and of the brightest emerald…
green； adorn the hollows at the highest level； while； at the lowest； wave
tiny forests of the feathery Ptilota and Dasya； and large leaves； cut into
fringes and furbelows； of rosy Rhodymeniae。 All these are lovely to
behold； but I think I admire as much as any of them； one of the
commonest of our marine plants； Chondrus crispus。 It occurs in the
greatest profusion on this coast； in every pool between tide…marks； and
everywhere … except in those of the highest level； where constant
exposure to light dwarfs the plant； and turns it of a dull umber…brown
tint … it is elegant in form and brilliant in colour。 The expanding fan…
shaped fronds； cut into segments； cut； and cut again； make fine bushy
tufts in a deep pool； and every segment of every frond reflects a flush of
the most lustrous azure； like that of a tempered sword…blade。〃 …
GOSSE'S DEVONSHIRE COAST； pp。 187…189。
And the sea…bottom； also； has its zones； at different depths； and its
peculiar forms in peculiar spots； affected by the currents and the nature
of the ground； the riches of which have to be seen； alas！ rather by the
imagination than the eye； for such spoonfuls of the treasure as the
dredge brings up to us； come too often rolled and battered； torn from
their sites and contracted by fear； mere hints to us of what the populous
reality below is like。 Often； standing on the shore at low tide； has one
longed to walk on and in under the waves； as the water…ousel does in the
pools of the mountain burn； and see it all but for a moment； and a
solemn beauty and meaning has invested the old Greek fable of Glaucus
the fisherman： how eating of the herb which gave his fish strength to
leap back into their native element； he was seized on the spot with a
strange longing to follow them under the waves； and became for ever a
companion of the fair semi…human forms with which the Hellenic poets
peopled their sunny bays and firths； feeding 〃silent flocks〃 far below on
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the green Zostera beds； or basking with them on the sunny ledges in the
summer noon； or wandering in the still bays on sultry nights amid the
choir of Amphitrite and her sea… nymphs：…
〃Joining the bliss of the gods； as they waken the coves with their
laughter；〃
in nightly revels； whereof one has sung； …
〃So they came up in their joy； and before them the roll of the surges
Sank； as the breezes sank dead； into smooth green foam…flecked marble
Awed； and the crags of the cliffs； and the pines of the mountains； were
silent。 So they came up in their joy； and around them the lamps of the sea…
nymphs； Myriad fiery globes； swam heaving and panting； and rainbows；
Crimson； and azure； and emerald； were broken in star…showers； lighting；
Far in the wine…dark depths of the crystal； the gardens of Nereus； Coral；
and sea…fan； and tangle； the blooms and the palms of the ocean。 So they
went on in their joy； more white than the foam which they scattered；
Laughing and singing and tossing and twining； while； eager； the Tritons
Blinded with kisses their eyes； unreproved； and above them in worship
Fluttered the terns； and the sea…gulls swept past them on silvery pinions；
Echoing softly their laughter； around them the wantoning dolphins Sighed
as they plunged； full of love； and the great sea…horses which bore them
Curved up their crests in their pride to the delicate arms of their riders；
Pawing the spray into gems； till a fiery rainfall； unharming； Sparkled and
gleamed on the limbs of the maids； and the coils of the mermen。 So they
went on in their joy； bathed round with the fiery coolness； Needing nor sun
nor moon； self…lighted； immortal： but others； Pitiful； floated in silence
apart； on their knees lay the sea…boys Whelmed by the roll of the surge；
swept down by the anger of Nereus； Hapless； whom never again upon
quay or strand shall their mothers Welcome with garlands and vows to the
temples； but； wearily pining； Gaze over island and main for the sails which
return not； they； heedless； Sleep in soft bosoms for ever； and dream of
the surge and the sea… maids。 So they passed by in their joy； like a dream；
on the murmuring ripple。〃
Such a rhapsody may be somewhat out of order； even in a popular
scientific book； and yet one cannot help at moments envying the old