Read the excerpt below and answer the question. All nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair— The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing— And Winter slumbering in the open air, Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring! ("Work without Hope," lines 1-4) What does slumbering mean in this passage? wakefulness insomnia sleeping rejoicing
In the passage, slumbering means rejoicing, because Winter "wears on his smiling face a dream of spring". Winter is smiling, therefore he must be rejoicing. Hope this helps!