Section 23. Spring-Blossoms⁠

The blossoms of Spring are as brief⁠ as they are beautiful. For⁠ a short time they embellish the country, spreading⁠, as it were, a bridal veil over every⁠ tree and hedge. It seems, indeed⁠, as if Nature had given them existence only to (S. 19, N. 7) show their worth, and then to destroy them. Yet⁠ they are “fair pledges of a fruitful tree,” and teach us the solemn⁠ lesson—that⁠ everything lovely on earth is destined soon to perish, and⁠ like them to glide into the grave.—Rev. E. M. Davies.

Frühlingsblüten.

vergänglich.

Auf; to embellish, schmücken.

spreading = and spread; as it were, gleichsam.

‘every — hedge’, say ‘hedges and trees’.

wirklich; as — only, als hätte die Natur ihnen nur das Dasein verliehen.

‘Yet — tree’, say ‘They are however the lovely messengers (Vorboten) of a fruitful (fruchtreich) tree’.

solemn lesson, ernste Wahrheit.

that — perish, daß alles Schöne auf Erden der Vergänglichkeit geweiht ist.

‘and — grave’, say ‘and like the blossoms must (App. § 18) glide (sinken) into an early grave’.