ON AGE AND SIZE

Benjonson, the far-famed poet-dramatist of the Elizabethan age beautifully analyzed this fact in his little poem captioned, "The Noble Nature". His observation and inference indeed open our eyes to the greatest truth: "Short span has its sweetness. And littleness has its loveliness too".

He gives a graphic account of the truth with an analogy that at once drives home the truth miraculously. He compares the age to an oak tree that lives hundreds of years in dim forests. No doubt it grows tall and stout, and covers thousands of inches of land by spreading its long, thick, green branches. Looks it majestic and awe-inspiring with its stately appearance, colourful flowers and shady branches. Then comes 'full stop', with regard to its merits. If at all there is any in the list of assets, the quantum of timber it yields demands inclusion. It is, of course, enormous. Mind you, only for timber, it is used mainly! Nothing worthwhile other than this, ever appears in sight.

But, look at the 'Lily' for a while, that lives, but for a day. Ah! What a lovely tiny flower is it! How captivating is its beauty! Its whiteness and splendor enthrall us. It anoints the gentle breeze with its sweet scent and makes the inhalers spellbound. It is a flower of light, fairer than May, perhaps the fairest among such tiniest objects. Hence,. people crave or its company, yearn for its sight, adorn themselves with it and lastly yet significantly, they use it as a sacred object of worship. They elevate its position and are elated by it in turn.

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