When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor
around me, and the meridian sun strikes the
upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my
trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the
inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the
tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I
lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown
plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz
of the little world among the stalks, and grow
familiar with the countless indescribable forms
of the insects and flies, then I feel the
presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his
own image, and the breath of that universal love
which bears and sustains us, as it floats around
us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend,
when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven
and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb
its power, like the form of a beloved mistress,
then I often think with longing, Oh, would I
could describe these conceptions, could impress
upon paper all that is living so full and warm
within me, that it might be the mirror of my
soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite
God!
O my friend — but it is too
much for my strength — I sink under the weight
of the splendor of these visions! A wonderful
serenity has taken possession of my entire soul,
like these sweet mornings of spring which I
enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel
the charm of existence in this spot, which was
created for the bliss of souls like mine.
I am so happy, my dear friend, so
absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil
existence, that I neglect my talents. I should
be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the
present moment; and yet I feel that I never was
a greater artist than now.
When,
while the lovely valley teems with vapor around
me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper
surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees,
and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner
sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall
grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie
close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants
are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the
little world among the stalks, and grow familiar
with the countless indescribable forms of the
insects and flies, then I feel the presence of
the Almighty, who formed us in his own image,
and the breath of that universal love which
bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in
an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when
darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and
earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its
power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then
I often think with longing, Oh, would I could
describe these conceptions, could impress upon
paper all that is living so full and warm within
me.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy.
my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary.