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two at a time； directly under my feet as I sat reading or writing；
and kept up the queerest chuckling and chirruping and vocal
pirouetting and gurgling sounds that ever were heard； and when I
stamped they only chirruped the louder； as if past all fear and
respect in their mad pranks； defying humanity to stop them。 No； you
don't chickaree chickaree。 They were wholly deaf to my
arguments； or failed to perceive their force； and fell into a strain
of invective that was irresistible。
The first sparrow of spring！ The year beginning with younger
hope than ever！ The faint silvery warblings heard over the
partially bare and moist fields from the bluebird； the song sparrow；
and the red…wing； as if the last flakes of winter tinkled as they
fell！ What at such a time are histories； chronologies； traditions；
and all written revelations？ The brooks sing carols and glees to
the spring。 The marsh hawk； sailing low over the meadow； is already
seeking the first slimy life that awakes。 The sinking sound of
melting snow is heard in all dells； and the ice dissolves apace in
the ponds。 The grass flames up on the hillsides like a spring fire
〃et primitus oritur herba imbribus primoribus evocata〃 as if
the earth sent forth an inward heat to greet the returning sun； not
yellow but green is the color of its flame； the symbol of
perpetual youth； the grass…blade； like a long green ribbon； streams
from the sod into the summer； checked indeed by the frost； but anon
pushing on again； lifting its spear of last year's hay with the
fresh life below。 It grows as steadily as the rill oozes out of the
ground。 It is almost identical with that； for in the growing days
of June； when the rills are dry； the grass…blades are their
channels； and from year to year the herds drink at this perennial
green stream； and the mower draws from it betimes their winter
supply。 So our human life but dies down to its root； and still puts
forth its green blade to eternity。
Walden is melting apace。 There is a canal two rods wide along
the northerly and westerly sides； and wider still at the east end。
A great field of ice has cracked off from the main body。 I hear a
song sparrow singing from the bushes on the shore olit； olit；
olit chip； chip； chip； che char che wiss； wiss； wiss。 He too
is helping to crack it。 How handsome the great sweeping curves in
the edge of the ice； answering somewhat to those of the shore； but
more regular！ It is unusually hard； owing to the recent severe but
transient cold； and all watered or waved like a palace floor。 But
the wind slides eastward over its opaque surface in vain； till it
reaches the living surface beyond。 It is glorious to behold this
ribbon of water sparkling in the sun； the bare face of the pond full
of glee and youth； as if it spoke the joy of the fishes within it；
and of the sands on its shore a silvery sheen as from the scales
of a leuciscus； as it were all one active fish。 Such is the
contrast between winter and spring。 Walden was dead and is alive
again。 But this spring it broke up more steadily； as I have said。
The change from storm and winter to serene and mild weather；
from dark and sluggish hours to bright and elastic ones； is a
memorable crisis which all things proclaim。 It is seemingly
instantaneous at last。 Suddenly an influx of light filled my house；
though the evening was at hand； and the clouds of winter still
overhung it； and the eaves were dripping with sleety rain。 I looked
out the window； and lo！ where yesterday was cold gray ice there lay
the transparent pond already calm and full of hope as in a summer
evening； reflecting a summer evening sky in its bosom； though none
was visible overhead； as if it had intelligence with some remote
horizon。 I heard a robin in the distance； the first I had heard for
many a thousand years； methought； whose note I shall not forget for
many a thousand more the same sweet and powerful song as of yore。
O the evening robin； at the end of a New England summer day！ If I
could ever find the twig he sits upon！ I mean he； I mean the twig。
This at least is not the Turdus migratorius。 The pitch pines and
shrub oaks about my house； which had so long drooped； suddenly
resumed their several characters； looked brighter； greener； and more
erect and alive； as if effectually cleansed and restored by the
rain。 I knew that it would not rain any more。 You may tell by
looking at any twig of the forest； ay； at your very wood…pile；
whether its winter is past or not。 As it grew darker； I was
startled by the honking of geese flying low over the woods； like
weary travellers getting in late from Southern lakes； and indulging
at last in unrestrained complaint and mutual consolation。 Standing
at my door； I could bear the rush of their wings； when； driving
toward my house； they suddenly spied my light； and with hushed
clamor wheeled and settled in the pond。 So I came in； and shut the
door； and passed my first spring night in the woods。
In the morning I watched the geese from the door through the
mist； sailing in the middle of the pond； fifty rods off； so large
and tumultuous that Walden appeared like an artificial pond for
their amusement。 But when I stood on the shore they at once rose up
with a great flapping of wings at the signal of their commander； and
when they had got into rank circled about over my head； twenty…nine
of them； and then steered straight to Canada； with a regular honk
from the leader at intervals； trusting to break their fast in
muddier pools。 A 〃plump〃 of ducks rose at the same time and took
the route to the north in the wake of their noisier cousins。
For a week I heard the circling； groping clangor of some
solitary goose in the foggy mornings； seeking its companion； and
still peopling the woods with the sound of a larger life than they
could sustain。 In April the pigeons were seen again flying express
in small flocks； and in due time I heard the martins twittering over
my clearing； though it had not seemed that the township contained so
many that it could afford me any； and I fancied that they were
peculiarly of the ancient race that dwelt in hollow trees ere white
men came。 In almost all climes the tortoise and the frog are among
the precursors and heralds of this season； and birds fly with song
and glancing plumage； and plants spring and bloom； and winds blow；
to correct this slight oscillation of the poles and preserve the
equilibrium of nature。
As every season seems best to us in its turn； so the coming in
of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the
realization of the Golden Age。
〃Eurus ad Auroram Nabathaeaque regna recessit；
Persidaque； et radiis juga subdita matutinis。〃
〃The East…Wind withdrew to Aurora and the Nabathean kingdom；
And the Persian； and the ridges placed under the morning rays。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
Man was born。 Whether that Artifi