The spreading cypress tree points out where lies
  The seat of the ethereal paradise.... 
  Pomegranates rubicund break forth and shine,
  A tint whereby thou, ruby, losest sheen. 
  ’Twixt the elm branches hangs the jocund vine,
  With branches some of red and some of green.... 
  Then the refined and splendid tapestry,
  Covering the rustic ground beneath the feet,
  Makes that of Achemeina dull to be,
  But makes the shady valley far more sweet. 
  Cephisian flowers with head inclined we see
  About the calm and lucid lake’s retreat.... 
  ’Twas difficult to fancy which was true,
  Seeing on heaven and earth all tints the same,
  If fair Aurora gave the flowers their time,
  Or from the lovely flowers to her it came;
  Flora and Zephyr there in painting drew
  The violets tinted, as of lovers’ flame,
  The iris, and the rose all fair and fresh
  E’en as it doth on cheek of maiden blush.... 
  Along the water sings the snow-white swan,
  While from the branch respondeth Philomel.... 
  Here, in its bill, to the dear nest, with care,
  The rapid little bird the food doth bear.

Subjective feeling for Nature is better displayed in the lyric than the epic.

The Spaniard, Fray Luis de Leon, was a typical example of a sixteenth-century lyrist; full of mild enthusiasm for Nature, the theosophico-mystical attitude of the Catholic.

A most fervid feeling for Nature from the religious side breathed in St Francis of Assisi—­the feeling which inspired his hymn to Brother Sun (Cantico del Sole), and led his brother Egidio, intoxicated with love to his Creator, to kiss trees and rocks and weep over them[12]: 

  Praised by His creatures all,
  Praised be the Lord my God
  By Messer Sun, my brother above all,
  Who by his rays lights us and lights the day—­
  Radiant is she, with his great splendour stored,
  Thy glory, Lord, confessing. 
  By Sister Moon and Stars my Lord is praised,
  Where clear and fair they in the heavens are raised
  By Brother Wind, etc....

His follower, Bonaventura, too, in his verses counted—­

    The smallest creatures his brothers and sisters, and called upon
    crops, vineyards, trees, flowers, and stars to praise God.

Bernard von Clairvaux made it a principle ’to learn from the earth, trees, corn, flowers, and grass’; and he wrote in his letter to Heinrich Murdach (Letter 106): 

    Believe me, I have proved it; you will find more in the woods
    than in books; trees and stones will teach you what no other
    teacher can.

He looked upon all natural objects as ‘rays of the Godhead,’ copies of a great original.

His contemporary, Hugo von St Victor, wrote: