Legend is thus encouraged to relate Tales of wonders in Earth’s creative state. We hear of bodies twofold, each a kind, Bound in one frame, but with a single mind. Inconceivable Centaurs! At three years A horse is full-grown and all burdens bears; At that age a boy can but play, and rest; Yearns aloud in sleep for his mother’s breast. Hardly is life for the young man begun When the wind-galled steed’s course long since was run. And Scylla? She might have chos’n to be fish, Or to bark as dogs, and have had her wish; But as a pair! And Chimæra again? Well for the Three to work as each is fain; But, however it is with dragons, goat And lion boast not of a flame-proof coat. So, of the new Earth and Heaven—dreams told Of rivers running sudden floods of gold; Trees with gems for flowers; giants of height To wade deep-rushing waters, and a might That could make Olympus a ruined heap; As if, because young Earth was used to keep Elements and seeds dormant, when they came At length to life, they need not be the same! Fancy “improved” them from real freaks, born, Living, if lives scarce human, and forlorn. From instinct creative, but cross-grained, Earth Brought monsters—aspect and limbs strange—to birth; Abnormal the whole—some with parts too few, Some with more, though all human, than were due. Horse-men, mermaids, dragons, gold-streams, gemmed trees. For Nature are impossibilities. Had they once existed, there is no cause Why the race should have ceased through Nature’s laws. The freaks of Earth were actual, and led Earthly men’s lives; horror, if they had bred, As they might have but for good Nature’s grace! She, guardian of the purity of race, Rejecting them from the kind, by her ban Of Childlessness, saved the descent of Man! Nature works marvels; many are combined, When she plants, and bars trespass on, a kind. First, long experiments will have been tried Before candidates find their way inside. Even with claim allowed, how many have Left, to prove they lived, nothing but a grave! Food may have failed, elbow-room, or good will In new-come neighbours strong to do them ill. Among survivors a part owe their life To native power to outlast long strife. A habit may have been acquired to keep Vigils while the enemies were asleep; Or consciously they set wit against wit, And, with life for stakes, enjoy playing it. That is reynard’s way; lions’, less, resource, Than valiant rage has been the ruling force; And a third quality has saved a race, Agility—deers’ pow’r to devour space. Again, Man is grand destroyer; so breeds, Many, owe survival to his large needs. Dogs might have been classed with wolves; but we prize Them as loyal light sleepers, best allies. Some kinds, beasts of burden, willing or not, Exchange protection, meals, for freedom’s lot.