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Following the example of the sky, everything was late on earth;

the cattle started late to pasture, and caught the hares at a

late breakfast. These usually returned to the groves at dawn:

to-day, covered by the thick fog, some were nibbling duckweed;

others, gathered in pairs, were digging holes in the field, and

thought to enjoy themselves in the open air; but the cattle drove

them back to the forest.

Even in the forest there was quiet. The birds on awakening did

not sing, but shook the dew from their feathers, hugged the

trees, tucked their heads under their wings, closed their eyes

again, and awaited the sun. Somewhere on the borders of a swamp a

stork clacked with its bill; on the haycocks sat drenched ravens,

which, with open beaks, poured forth ceaseless chatter-hateful to

the farmers as an omen of damp weather. The farmers had long

since gone out to work.