John Seely Hart

“ A flash like sunlight played through the darkness;—a sweet rich strain arose from the lute, and a richer, deeper, sweeter music faintly re-echoed the notes around. The waters smiled and murmured; the little flowers laid their cheeks against each other like happy sleeping children; each created thing responded to the all-pervading music of Love.
“This is the tone,” cried Mira enchanted;—“this is the one great master-key of existence: it is not to toil, nor to strive, nor to battle, that we are placed in this world of pleasure—it is only to live and to love.” ”

“ They were beautiful; but why should they hide their beauty in this lonely solitude?—yet not lonely, for Mira bore in her hand a marvellous talisman—an enchanted lute, whose lightest touch had power to waken the voices of a thousand unseen spirits, and reveal to mortal eye and ear the wonderful sealed mysteries of Nature. ”

“ But, Mira, look up, and tell me what you see.”
“When I look up, I see nothing, because of the dazzling sunlight.”
“Ah! but through the sunlight I can see the stars! the clear stars, that ever shine and never weary. And hark! From high, above the stars, floats down the prancing echo-tone. ’Tis the voice of the angels with their harps—they answer my heaven-yearning lute! ’Tis the great master-tone which rules the universe—the music of the soul!” ”