Night is a dead monotonous period under a roof; but in the open world it passes lightly, with its stars and dews and perfumes, and the hours are marked by changes in the face of Nature. What seems a kind of temporal death to people choked between walls and curtains, is only a light and living slumber to the man who sleeps afield.

Summary

In this quote, the author highlights the stark contrast between the experience of night indoors versus in the natural world. They suggest that being confined within walls and curtains during the night can feel monotonous and stifling, almost like a form of temporal death. However, when one is out in the open, night becomes a refreshing and lively experience. The author brings attention to the gentle presence of stars, dews, and aromas that accompany the night, and how the passage of time is marked by the ever-changing face of nature. They emphasize the transformative and rejuvenating nature of sleeping under the stars, implying that it resembles a light and rejuvenating slumber rather than a state of actual death.

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