The old world neared its end. The pleasure garden of youthful humanity withered away—up into more open, more desolate regions, forsaking their childhood, struggled the growing peoples. The gods vanished with their retinue -- Nature stood alone and lifeless. Dry number and rigid measure bound her with iron chains. Into dust and air the priceless blossoms of life fell away into words obscure. Gone was wonder working faith, with its all-transforming all-uniting angel twin, the imagination. A cold north wind blew unkindly over the torpid plain, and the wonderland first froze, then evaporated into ether. Heaven's distances filled up with glowing worlds. Into the deeper sanctuary, into the more exalted region of the mind, the soul of the world retired with all her powers, there to rule until the dawn should break of universal glory. —Novalis, excerpt from Hymns to the Night, 1797-1800

The old world neared its end. The pleasure garden of youthful humanity withered away—up into more open, more desolate regions, forsaking their childhood, struggled the growing peoples. The gods vanished with their retinue -- Nature stood alone and lifeless. Dry number and rigid measure bound her with iron chains. Into dust and air the priceless blossoms of life fell away into words obscure. Gone was wonder working faith, with its all-transforming all-uniting angel twin, the imagination. A cold north wind blew unkindly over the torpid plain, and the wonderland first froze, then evaporated into ether. Heaven's distances filled up with glowing worlds. Into the deeper sanctuary, into the more exalted region of the mind, the soul of the world retired with all her powers, there to rule until the dawn should break of universal glory. —Novalis, excerpt from Hymns to the Night, 1797-1800