1.As a tree, the lord of the forest, even so, without fiction, is man: his
hairs are as leaves; his skin, as exterior bark.
2. Through the skin flows blood; through the rind, sap: from a wounded
man, therefore, blood gushes, as the vegetable fluid from a tree that is cut.
3. His muscles are as interwoven fibres; the membrane round his bones
as interior bark, which is closely fixed: his bones are as the hard pieces of
wood within: their marrow is composed of pith.
4. Since the tree, when felled, springs again, still fresher, from the
root, from what root springs mortal man when felled by the hand of death?
5. Say not, he springs from seed: seed surely comes from the living.
A tree, no doubt, rises from seed, and after death has a visible re­newal.
6. But a tree which they have plucked up by the root, flourishes indi­vidually
no more. From what root then springs mortal man when felled by the hand of death?
7. Say not he was born before; he is born: who can make him spring
again to birth?
8. GOD, who is perfect wisdom, perfect happiness, He is the final
refuge of the man, who has liberally bestowed his wealth, who has been
firm in virtue, who knows and adores that Great One.

82 A Hymn to the Night

NIGHT approaches illumined with stars and planets, and looking on all
sides with numberless eyes, overpowers all meaner lights. The immortal
goddess pervades the firmament covering the low valleys and shrubs and
the lofty mountains and trees, but soon she disturbs the gloom with cel­estial effulgence.
Advancing with brightness, at length she recalls her sister
Morning; and the nightly shade gradually melts away.
May she, at this time, be propitious! She, in whose early watch, we may
calmly recline in our mansion, as birds repose on the tree.
Mankind now sleep in their towns; now herds and flocks peacefully
slumber, and winged creatures, even swift falcons and vultures.
O Night, avert from us the she-wolf and the wolf; and oh! suffer us to
pass thee in soothing rest!
O Morn, remove, in due time, this black, yet visible, overwhelming
darkness which at present infolds me, as thou enablest me to remove the
cloud of their debts.
Daughter of heaven, I approach thee with praise, as the cow approaches
her milker; accept, O Night, not the hymn only, but the oblation of thy
suppliant, who prays that his foes may be subdued.