We must remember that this was the year 1817,
before, so it is commonly supposed, men knew what it was properly to
admire a cloud or a rock. Zachariah was not, therefore, on a level
with the most ordinary subscriber to a modern circulating library.
Nevertheless he could not help noticing--we will say he did no more--
the wonderful, the sacredly beautiful, drama which noiselessly
displayed itself before him. Over in the east the intense deep blue
of the sky softened a little. Then the trees in that quarter began
to contrast themselves against the background and reveal their
distinguishing shapes. Swiftly, and yet with such even velocity that
in no one minute did there seem to be any progress compared with the
minute preceding, the darkness was thinned, and resolved itself
overhead into pure sapphire, shaded into yellow below and in front of
him, while in the west it was still almost black. The grassy floor
of the meadows now showed its colour, grey green, with the dew lying
on it, and in the glimmer under the hedge might be discerned a hare
or two stirring. Star by star disappeared, until none were left,
save Venus, shining like a lamp till the very moment almost when the
sun's disc touched the horizon.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223