February 29

There is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth.

WHEN the Gods heard, they straight arose, and took

Their horses, and rode forth through all the world.

North, south, east, west, they struck, and roamed the world,

Entreating all things to weep Balder's death.

And all that lived, and all without life, wept.

And as in winter, when the frost breaks up,

At winter's end, before the spring begins,

And a warm west-wind blows, and thaw sets in—

After an hour a dripping sound is heard

In all the forests, and the soft-strewn snow

Under the trees is dibbled thick with holes,

And from the boughs the snowloads shuffle down;

And, in fields sloping to the south, dark plots

Of grass peep out amid surrounding snow,

And widen, and the peasant's heart is glad—

So through the world was heard a dripping noise

MATTHEW Of all things weeping to bring Balder back;

ARNOLD And there fell joy upon the Gods to hear.

THE GRACE OF TEARS