COSMOS. Page 367, note 1. These verses have no title in the verse-books. "Cosmos" is given by the editor. They were originally trials for a "Song of Nature,"—Nature is speaking. The May element claimed the later verses, though their sequence was never made out, the first divisions harmonizing fairly, but the last two hopelessly dislocated, though they have a certain charm.
THE MIRACLE. Page 369, note 1. This poem was written at about the same period with "My Garden," "Boston" and "Waldeinsamkeit," between 1857 and 1865.
THE WATERFALL. Page 369, note 2. In addition to his Walden wood-lots, Mr. Emerson bought one on the edge of Lincoln, for the sake of a miniature waterfall in a little brook, the outlet of Flint's Pond. Mr. Thoreau showed him additional charms, certain shrubs and flowers not plentiful in Concord that grew on its banks,—veratrum with its tropical growth, trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, yellow violets, and the hornbeam, arrow-wood and a bush of mountain laurel. It was a wonderful resort for the various kinds of thrushes.
WALDEN. Page 370. This poem represents the early form of "My Garden." As years went on, verses were added, and at last the groups became distinct.
THE ENCHANTER. Page 373, note 1. "Shakspeare is the only biographer of Shakspeare; and even he can tell nothing, except to the Shakspeare in us, that is, to our most apprehensive and sympathetic hour."—Representative Men, p. 208.
GOETHE. Page 373, note 2. Mr. Emerson read Goethe's works through, largely out of his love for Carlyle, who constantly
