首页 >出版文学> Shavings>第2章

第2章

  WhileinthemainLanier’ssentence-constructionisgood,occasionallyhissentencesaretoolong,asin`MySprings’,`ToBayardTaylor’,and`Sunrise’,inwhichwehavesentenceslongerthantheopeningonein`ParadiseLost’,and,whatisofmoremoment,notsowellbalanced,andhenceaffordingfewerbreathingspaces。
  Thatthisdetractsfromclearnessandeuphonyboth,everyreaderwilladmit。
  Tocometothefiguresofspeech,onemustbestruckatoncewiththedelicacyandthevigorofLanier’simagination。Thepoet’sfancypersonifieswhatatfirstblushseemstousincapableofpersonification。
  Thusatonetime*1*helikensmentoclover-leavesandtheCourse-of-thingstothebrowsingox,whichmakeswaywiththeclover-heads;
  whileatanotherheaddressesanoldredhillofGeorgiaas"ThougashedandhairyLearWhomthedivineCordeliaoftheyear,E’enpityingSpring,willvainlystrivetocheer。"*2*
  LikeotherSouthernpoets,*3*Laniersometimesfailstocheckhisimagination,andinconsequenceleaveshisreaders"bramble-tangledinabrilliantmaze,"
  asinhisdescriptionofthestarsin`JuneDreams’*4*
  andinthe`PsalmoftheWest’。*5*WhileIdonotlikeamaze,brilliantthoughitbeandsweet,ImustsaythatIprefertheembarrassmentofrichestotheembarrassmentofpoverty。Onthewhole,however,Lanier’sfiguresstrikemeassingularlyfreshandhappy。
  In`Sunrise’,forexample,thepoetspeaksofthemarshasfollows:
  "Thetide’satfull:themarshwithfloodedstreamsGlimmersalimpidlabyrinthofdreams;"*6*
  andoftheheavensreflectedinthemarshwaters:
  "EachwindingcreekingraveentrancementliesArhapsodyofmorning-stars。TheskiesShinescantwithoneforkedgalaxy,——
  Themarshbragsten:loopedonhisbreasttheylie。"*7*
  Later,astheebb-tideflowsfrommarshtosea,weareparentheticallytreatedtothesetwolines:
  "Runhome,littlestreams,Withyourlapfulsofstarsanddreams。"*8*
  Finally,theheavenitselfisthuspictured:
  "NowineachpettiestpersonalsphereofdewThesumm’dmornshinescompleteasintheblueBigdew-dropofallheaven;"*9*
  besidewhichmustbehungthisexquisitepicture:
  "Thedew-dropmornmayfallfromoffthepetalofthesky。"*10*
  ——
  *1*In`Clover’。
  *2*`Corn’,ll。185-187。
  *3*SeeonthispointtheremarksofProfessorTrentinhisadmirablelifeof`Simms’(Boston,1892),p。149。
  *4*`JuneDreams’,l。21ff。
  *5*`PsalmoftheWest’,l。183ff。
  *6*`Sunrise’,ll。80-81。
  *7*Ibid。,ll。82-85。
  *8*Ibid。,ll。114-115。
  *9*Ibid。,ll。134-136。
  *10*`TheShipofEarth’,l。5。
  ——
  Astoversification,Lanierusesalmostallthetypesofverse——iambic,trochaic,blank,thesonnet,etc。——andwithaboutequalskill。
  Threefeatures,however,speciallycharacterizehisverse:
  thecarefuldistributionofvowel-colorsandthefrequentuseofalliterationandofphoneticsyzygy,*1*bywhichlastismeantacombinationorsuccessionofidenticalorsimilarconsonants,whetherinitially,medially,orfinally,asforinstancethesuccessionofM’sinTennyson’s"ThemoanofdovesinimmemorialelmsAndmurmuringofinnumerablebees。"
  AllofthesephenomenaareillustratedinLanier’s`SongoftheChattahoochee’,whichhasoftenbeencomparedtoTennyson’s`TheBrook’,andwhichaloneprovestheauthoramasterinversification。Tobesure,Lanieroccasionallygivesusanimproperrhyme,as`thwart:heart’,*2*etc。,butsodoeseverypoet。
  Nodoubt,too,hisloveofmusicsometimesledhim,not"tostrainforformeffects",buttoindulgetoomuchtherein,or,inthewordsofMr。Stedman,"toessayinlanguagefeatsthatonlythegamutcanrenderpossible。"*3*But,asProfessorKentadmirablyputsit,"Lanierwasapoetaswellasanartist,andifattimeshisartistictemperamentseemedtoeclipsehispoeticthought,grantthattothepoetmindtheverymannerofexpressionmayindicatethethoughtthatliesbeneath,whiletothedullerearthethoughtmustcomeincompletedform。"*4*Moreover,asweshallseelater,thisextraordinarymusicalendowmentgaveLanierauniquepositionamongEnglishpoets。
  ——
  *1*See`TheScienceofEnglishVerse’,p。306ff。
  *2*`IntheFoam’,ll。6,8。See,too,Kent’s`StudyofLanier’sPoems’,whichgivesanexhaustivetreatmentofLanier’sversification。
  *3*Stedman’s`PoetsofAmerica’,p。449。
  *4*`Kent’,p。60。
  ——
  Afterwhathasbeensaidthequalitiesofstylemaybebrieflyhandled。
  Aswehavealreadyseen,Laniersometimesfailsinclearness,or,moreprecisely,insimplicity。Thiscomespartlyfrominfelicitoussentence-construction,partly,perhaps,fromLanier’sextraordinarymusicalendowment,butchiefly,Ithink,fromover-luxurianceofimagination。Butthisoccasionaldefecthasbeenundulyexaggerated。ThusMr。Gosse*1*declaresthatLanieris"neversimple,nevereasy,neverinonesinglelyricnaturalandspontaneousformorethanonestanza,"——astatementsoclearlyhyperbolicashardlytocallfornotice。Asamatteroffact,Lanierhaswrittennumerouspoemsthatofferlittleornodifficultytothereaderofaverageintelligence,as`LifeandSong’,`MySprings’,`TheSymphony’,`TheMocking-Bird’,`TheSongoftheChattahoochee’,`TheWavingoftheCorn’,`TheRevengeofHamish’,`Remonstrance’,`ABalladofTreesandtheMaster’,etc。Morethanthis,Lanierattimesmanifeststhesimplicitythatisgrantedonlytogeniusofthehighestorder:thusanEnglishcritic,*2*
  whobythewaydeclaresthatLanier’svolumehasmoreofgeniusthanallthepoemsofPoe,orLongfellow,orLowell(thehumorouspoemsexcepted),andwhoconsidersLanierthemostoriginalofallAmericanpoets,andmoreoriginalthananyEnglandhasproducedforthelastthirtyyears,saysthat"nothingcanbemoreperfectthan——
  `ThewholesweetroundOflittlesthatlargelifecompound,’"*3*
  linesin`MySprings’,andthat"thetouchofwonderinthelasttwolines,`ImarvelthatGodmadeyoumine,Forwhenhefrowns,’tisthenyeshine,’*4*
  isassimpleandexquisiteasanytouchoftendernessinourliterature。"
  IfranklyadmitthatseveralofLanier’sbestpoems,as`Corn’,`TheMarshesofGlynn’,and`Sunrise’,arenotsimple;
  butthesamethingistrueofMilton’s`ParadiseLost’andofBrowning’s`TheRingandtheBook’,andyetthisfactdoesnotexcludethesetwoworksfromthelistofgreatpoems。Mr。Gosse,however,declaresthat`Corn’,`Sunrise’,and`TheMarshesofGlynn’"simulatepoeticexpressionwithextraordinaryskill。Butoftherealthing,ofthegenuinetraditionalarticle,notatrace"!Whatdothesepoemsshow,then?
  Mr。Gosseanswers:"Ifindapainfuleffort,astrainandrage,themostprominentqualitiesineverythinghewrote;"whichstrikesmeasthereverseofthefacts。Inoneofhisletters*5*toJudgeBleckley,Lanierwrotethissentence:"Myheadandmyheartarebothsofullofpoemswhichthedreadfulstruggleforbreaddoesnotgivemetimetoputonpaper,thatIamoftendriventoheadacheandheartache,purelyforwantofanhourortwotoholdapen。"If,then,hecommittedanerror(andIamfarfromconsideringhimfaultless),itwasnotthathebeatandspurredonPegasus,butthathefailedtoreinhimin。Still,IrepeatthatIprefertheembarrassmentofrichestotheembarrassmentofpoverty。Finally,justasMiltontellsusthatthemusicofthespheresisnottobeheardbythegross,unpurgedear,soIbelievethatmanyintelligentearsandeyesareatfirsttoogrosstohearandseewhatLanierputsbeforethem,whereasabitofpatientlisteningandlookingrevealsdelightshithertoundreamedof。
  ——
  *1*See`Bibliography’。
  *2*`TheSpectator’(London);see`Bibliography’。
  *3*`MySprings’,ll。49-50。
  *4*`MySprings’,ll。55-56。
  *5*Itistobehopedthattheselettersmayyetbepublished。
  IquotefromonedatedNovember15,1874。
  ——
  Ifnotalwayssimple,Lanierisoftenforcibleintheextreme,asin`TheSymphony’,`TheRevengeofHamish’,`Remonstrance’,and`Sunrise’。
  Ofcourse,itisopentoanyonetoseeinthesepoemsthe"rage"
  attributedtoLanierbyMr。Gosse,butIprefertoconsideritdivinewrathinallbutthelast,andinitwonderunutterable,whichyetissoutteredthatearsbecomeeyes。Ialludetothestanzas*describingthebreakofdawnandtherisingofthesun。
  ——
  *`Sunrise’,ll。86-152。
  ——
  Ofthepoet’smarvelouseuphony,`TheSongoftheChattahoochee’
  speaksclearlyenough。Aswehaveseeninourtreatmentofversification,itishereaquestionnotoftoolittlebutoftoomuch。
  But,despiteanoccasionaltoogreatyieldingtohispassionformusic,hisextraordinaryendowmentinthisdirectiongaveLanierauniquepositionamongEnglishpoets。IquoteagainfromProfessorKent:*
  "Butifhissenseofbeautymadehimapeerofourgreatpoets,itwastheheavenlygiftofmusicthatdistinguishedhimfromthem。
  Milton,itistrue,whomhemostresemblesinthisrespect,hadaknowledgeofmusic,butnotthesamepassionforit。Milton’smusicwasmorearecreation,anaccompanimentofreverie;Lanier’swasafieryzeal;
  ayearninglove,achosenandadequateformofexpressionofhissoul’sdeepestfeeling。Combinedwiththispassionformusicwashistechnicalknowledgeoftheart,andthesecombinedformedatoncethefoundationandtheframeworkofhispoetry。Heseemsliterallytohavesunghispoems;theyareessentiallymusical,tuneful,andmelodious。
  Surchargedwithmusic,heoverflowsinmellifluousnumbers。Here,then,Lanierstandsoutdifferentiatedinthechoirofpoets,andherewefindthatdistinctivequalitywhichistheveryflavorofhiswriting。"
  ——
  *P。62。
  ——
  WhilemostofLanier’spoemsareinaseriousstrain,severaldisclosenomeansenseofhumor。Irefertohisdialectpoems,suchas`Jones’sPrivateArgyment’,`UncleJim’sBaptistRevivalHymn’,and`ThePowerofPrayer’,especiallythelast,writteninconjunctionwithhisbrother,Mr。CliffordLanier。
  Therearepassagesinthepoemsnolesspatheticthanthepoet’slife。
  Indiscussinghisloveofnaturewehaveseenthathewasapantheistinthebestsenseoftheterm。Sodelicatewashissensibilitythatwedonotwonderwhenwehearhimdeclaring,"AndIamonewithallthekinsmenthingsThate’ermyFatherfathered,"*
  asayingasfelicitousastheRoman’s"Iamaman,and,therefore,nothinghumanisstrangertome。"Thetendernessofthe`BalladofTreesandtheMaster’musttouchallreaders。
  Fewpassagesaremorepathetic,Ithink,thanthat,in`JuneDreamsinJanuary’,tellingofthepoet’sstruggleforbreadandfame,while"hisworshipfulsweetwifesatstill,afar,withinthevillagewhenceshesenthimforth,waitingallconfidentandproudandcalm。"
  And,ifthereoccursthereinaplaintivetone,letusrememberthatitistheonlytimethathecomplainedofhislot,andthatherereallyhehasmoreinmindhisdearerself,hiswife,andthatcalmsucceededtounrestjustasitdoesinthispassage:
  "`Whycanwepoetsdreamusbeauty,so,Butcannotdreamusbread?Why,now,canI
  Make,aye,createthisfervidthrobbingJuneOutofthechill,chillmatterofmysoul,Yetcannotmakeapoorestpenny-loafOutofthissamechillmatter,no,notoneForMary,thoughshestarveduponmybreast?’
  Andthenhefelluponhiscouch,andsobbed,And,late,justwhenhisheartleanedo’erTheveryedgeofbreaking,faintofall,Godsenthimsleep。"**
  ——
  *`AFloridaSunday’,ll。102-103。
  **`JuneDreamsinJanuary’,ll。68-78。
  ——
  V。Lanier’sTheoryofPoetryItisnowtimetosayawordaboutLanier’stheoryofart,especiallytheartofpoetry。Hisviewsupontheformalsideofpoetryhavealreadybeennoticedintheconsiderationofhis`ScienceofEnglishVerse’,andhencereceivenofurthercommenthere。
  ThatLanierkeenlyappreciatedtheresponsibilityrestingupontheartist,appearsfrom`Individuality’,wherehetellsus,"Awfulisartbecause’tisfree,"*1*
  and,"Eachartist——giftofterror!——ownshiswill。"*2*
  Butheacceptstheresponsibilityreverentlyandconfidently:
  "Iworkinfreedomwild,Butwork,asplaysalittlechild,SureoftheFather,Self,andLove,alone。"*3*
  ——
  *1*`Individuality’,l。62。
  *2*`Individuality’,l。76。
  *3*`Individuality’,ll。89-91。
  ——
  Again,theprovinceofpoetryispointedout,asin`Clover’:
  "Theartist’smarketistheheartofman;
  Theartist’sprice,somelittlegoodofman;"*1*
  andin`TheBee’:
  "Wiltask,`Whatprofite’erapoetbrings?’
  HebearethstarrystuffabouthiswingsTopollentheeandstingtheefertile。"*2*
  In`Corn’,*3*too,the"tallcorn-captain""typesthepoet-soulsublime。"
  ——
  *1*`Clover’,ll。126-127。
  *2*`TheBee’,ll。40-42。
  *3*`Corn’,l。52ff。
  ——
  ButitisinhisproseworksthatLanierhastreatedthemattermostatlength,andtotheseIturn。Inthefirstplace,heinsiststhattobeanartistonemustknowagreatdeal,astatementthatwouldappearsuperfluousbutforitsfrequentoverlookingbywould-beartists。Henceheisrightinwarningyoungwriters:
  "Youneednotdreamofwinningtheattentionofsoberpeoplewithyourpoetryunlessthatpoetryandyoursoulbehinditareinformedandsaturatedwithatleastthelargestfinalconceptionsofcurrentscience。"*
  ThatLanierstrovetofollowthisprecept,wehaveabundantevidenceinhislifeandinhisworks;andIthinkthat,ifwerememberhisenvironments,wemustwonderatthevastness,theaccuracy,andthevarietyofhisknowledge。Asadditionallyillustrativeofthelast,ImayaddthatLanierinventedsomeimprovementsfortheflute,andmadeadiscoveryinthephysicsofmusicthattheProfessorofPhysicsintheUniversityofVirginiathoughtconsiderable。**
  ——
  *`Gates’,p。29。
  **See`West’,p。23。
  ——
  Inthesecondplace,Lanierthinksthatapoet’sknowledgeofhisartshouldbescientific。Itwasthisthatledhimtowrite`TheScienceofEnglishVerse’,themottoofwhichis,"Butthebestconceptionscannotbe,savewherescienceandgeniusare。"
  In`TheEnglishNovel’hedeclaresthat"notasingleversewaseverwrittenbyinstinctalonesincetheworldbegan,"*
  andfortifieshisstatementbyBenJonson’stributetoShakespeare,——
  "Foragoodpoet’smadeaswellasborn,Andsuchwertthou。"
  ButLanierclearlysawthatnoformallawsandnoamountofscientificknowledgecouldalonemakeapoet,asappearsfromthemottoabovequoted,fromtheclosingchapterof`TheScienceofEnglishVerse’,whichtellsusthattheeducatedloveofbeautyistheartist’sonlylaw,andfromthisothermotto,fromSirPhilipSidney:"APoet,noindustriecanmake,ifhisowneGeniusbeenotcarrieduntoit。"
  ——
  *`TheEnglishNovel’,p。33。
  ——
  Inthethirdplace,Lanierholdsthatamoralintentiononthepartofanartistdoesnotinterferewiththenaturalnessorintrinsicbeautyofhiswork;thatinartthecontrollingconsiderationisrathermoralthanartisticbeauty;butthatmoralbeautyandartisticbeauty,sofarfrombeingdistinctoropposed,areconvergentandmutuallyhelpful。
  Thisthesisheupholdsinthefollowingeloquentandcogentpassage:
  "Permitmetorecalltoyouinthefirstplacethattherequirementhasbeenfromtimeimmemorialthatwhereverthereiscontestasbetweenartisticandmoralbeauty,unlessthemoralsideprevail,allislost。Letanysculptorhewusoutthemostravishingcombinationoftendercurvesandsphericsoftnessthateverstoodforwoman;
  yetiftheliphaveacertainfulnessthathintsoftheflesh,ifthebrowbeinsincere,ifintheminutestparticularthephysicalbeautysuggestamoralugliness,thatsculptor——unlesshebeportrayingamoraluglinessforamoralpurpose——mayaswellgiveoverhismarbleforpaving-stones。Time,whosejudgmentsareinexorablymoral,willnotaccepthiswork。Forindeedwemaysaythathewhohasnotyetperceivedhowartisticbeautyandmoralbeautyareconvergentlineswhichrunbackintoacommonidealorigin,andwhothereforeisnotafirewithmoralbeautyjustaswithartisticbeauty——thathe,inshort,whohasnotcometothatstageofquietandeternalfrenzyinwhichthebeautyofholinessandtheholinessofbeautymeanonething,burnasonefire,shineasonelight,withinhim;heisnotyetthegreatartist。"*BycopiousquotationsLanierthenshowsthat"manyfineandbeautifulsoulsappearafterawhiletoloseallsenseofdistinctionbetweentheseterms,Beauty,Truth,Love,Wisdom,Goodness,andthelike,"andconcludesthus:"Andifthisbetrue,cannotonesaywithauthoritytotheyoungartist,——whetherworkinginstone,incolor,intones,orincharacter-formsofthenovel:
  sofarfromdreadingthatyourmoralpurposewillinterferewithyourbeautifulcreation,goforwardintheclearconvictionthatunlessyouaresuffused——soulandbody,onemightsay——
  withthatmoralpurposewhichfindsitslargestexpressioninlove——thatis,theloveofallthingsintheirproperrelation——
  unlessyouaresuffusedwiththislove,donotdaretomeddlewithbeauty;
  unlessyouaresuffusedwithbeauty,donotmeddlewithlove;
  unlessyouaresuffusedwithtruth,donotdaretomeddlewithgoodness;——
  inaword,unlessyouaresuffusedwithbeauty,truth,wisdom,goodness,ANDlove,abandonthehopethattheageswillacceptyouasanartist。"**
  ——
  *`TheEnglishNovel’,p。272f。
  **`TheEnglishNovel’,p。280。Ofthenumerousdiscussionsofthisthesis,thestudentshouldconsultatleastthosebyMatthewArnold(`Preface’tohiseditionof`Wordsworth’sPoems’),JohnRuskin(`StonesofVenice’,vol。iii。,chap。iv。),andVictorHugo(`WilliamShakespeare’,BookVI。)。
  ——
  VI。ConclusionMiltonhassomewheresaidthatinordertobeagreatpoetonemusthimselfbeatruepoem,adictumnonethelesstrustworthybecauseofitsinapplicabilitytoitsauthoralongwithseveralothergreatpoets。NowofallEnglishpoets,IknowofnonethatcamenearerbeingatruepoemthandidLanier。
  Hewasasspotlessas"theLadyofChrist’s",andinfinitelymorelovable。
  Indeed,heseemstometohaverealizedtheidealofhisownknightlyHorn,whohopesthatsomedaymenwillbe"maidsinpurity"。*
  Iwillnotrecallhisgentleyetheroiclifeamiddrawbacksalmostunparalleled;foritisevensadderthanitisbeautiful。
  Itismydeliberatejudgmentthat,while,asthepoetsaysinhis`LifeandSong’,nosingerhaseverwhollylivedhisminstrelsy,Laniercamesonearitthatwemayfairlysay,intheclosinglinesofthepoem,"Hissongwasonlylivingaloud,Hiswork,asingingwithhishand。"
  And,formypart,Iamasgratefulforhisnobleprivatelifeasforhisdistinguishedpublicwork。
  ——
  *`TheSymphony’,l。302。
  ——
  AndyetIwillnotclosewiththispictureoftheman;formypurposeisrathertopresentthepoet。Hamperedthoughhewasbyfewnessofyears,byfeeblenessofbody,byshortnessofbread,and,mostofallperhaps,byover-luxurianceofimagination,Lanierwasyet,tomymind,indisputablyagreatpoet。ForintechniquehewasakintoTennyson;*
  intheloveofbeautyandinlyricsweetness,toKeatsandShelley;
  intheloveofnature,toWordsworth;andinspirituality,toRuskin,thegistofwhoseteachingisthatwearesoulstemporarilyhavingbodies;
  toMilton,"God-giftedorgan-voiceofEngland";andtoBrowning,"subtlestassertorofthesoulinsong"。Tobesure,Lanier’sgeniusisnotequaltothatofanyoneofthepoetsmentioned,butIventuretobelievethatitisofthesameorder,and,therefore,deservingoflastingremembrance。
  ——
  *Mr。Thayerputsitstronger:"AsamasterofmelodiousmetreonlyTennyson,andhenotoften,hasequalledLanier。"Mr。F。F。Browne,Editorof`TheDial’(Chicago),comparesthetwopoetsinanotheraspect:
  "`TheSymphony’ofLaniermayrecallsomepartsof`Maud’;
  buttheyoungerpoet’streatmentisasmuchhisownastheelder’sishisown。ThecomparisonofLanierwithTennysonwill,indeed,onlydeepentheimpressionofhisoriginality,whichishismoststrikingquality。ItmaybedoubtedifanyEnglishpoetofourtime,exceptTennyson,hascasthisworkinanamplermould,orwroughtwithmoreoffreedom,orstampedhisproductwiththeimpressofastrongerpersonality。Histhought,hisstand-point,hisexpression,hisform,histreatment,arehisalone;andthroughthemallhejustifieshisrighttothetitleofpoet。"
  ——
  PoemsLifeandSongIflifewerecaughtbyaclarionet,[1]
  Andawildheart,throbbinginthereed,Shouldthrillitsjoyandtrillitsfret,Andutteritsheartineverydeed,ThenwouldthisbreathingclarionetTypewhatthepoetfainwouldbe;
  Fornoneo’thesingerseveryetHaswhollylivedhisminstrelsy,Orclearlysunghistrue,truethought,Orutterlybodiedforthhislife,Oroutoflifeandsonghaswrought[11]
  Theperfectoneofmanandwife;
  Orlivedandsung,thatLifeandSongMighteachexpresstheother’sall,CarelessiflifeorartwerelongSincebothwereone,tostandorfall:
  Sothatthewonderstruckthecrowd,Whoshouteditabouttheland:
  `Hissongwasonlylivingaloud,Hiswork,asingingwithhishand!’
  ____
  1868。
  Notes:LifeandSong`LifeandSong’isthefifthofaseriesofsevenpoemspublishedunderthegeneralheadingof`Street-cries’,withthetwostanzasfollowingasanintroduction:
  "OftseemstheTimeamarket-townWheremanymerchant-spiritsmeetWhoupanddownandupanddownCryoutalongthestreet"Theirneeds,aswares;oneTHUS,oneSO:
  Tillallthewaysarefullofsound:
  ——Butstillcomerain,andsun,andsnow,Andstilltheworldgoesround。"
  Theremainingnumbersoftheseriesare:1。`Remonstrance’,giveninthisvolume;2。`TheShipofEarth’;3。`HowLoveLookedforHell’;
  4。`Tyranny’;6。`ToRichardWagner’;7。`ASongofLove’。
  IcanthinkofnomorehelpfulcommentonthesubjectofourpoemthanthissentencefromMilton’s`ApologyforSmectymnuus’,alreadyalludedtointhe`Introduction’(p。liv[PartVI]):
  "Andlongitwasnotafter,whenIwasconfirmedinthisopinion,thathewhowouldnotbefrustrateofhishopetowritewellhereafterinlaudablethings,oughthimselftobeatruepoem;thatis,acompositionandpatternofthebestandhonorablestthings;
  notpresumingtosinghighpraisesofheroicmenorfamouscities,unlesshehaveinhimselftheexperienceandthepracticeofallthatwhichispraiseworthy。"
  Lines19-20。IhavebeenpleasedtodiscoverthattheapplicationIhavemadeofthispoem,especiallyoftheselines(see`Introduction’,p。liv[PartVI]),islikewisemadebymoststudentsofLanier’slife,andthatMrs。Lanierhaschosenthesetwolinesforinscriptiononthemonumenttobeerectedtohismemory。
  Onthereversesideofthestone,Imayadd,aretobeputthesewords:
  "HethatdwellethinlovedwellethinGod"(IJohniv。16)。
  Jones’sPrivateArgymentThatairsameJones,whichlivedinJones,[1]
  Hehadthispintabouthim:
  He’dswearwithahundredsighsandgroans,ThatfarmersMUSTstopgittin’loans,Andgitalongwithout’em:
  Thatbankers,warehousemen,andsichWasfatt’nin’ontheplanter,AndTennessywasrotten-richA-raisin’meatandcorn,allwhichDraw’dmoneytoAtlanta:
  Andtheonlything(saysJones)todo[11]
  Is,eatnomeatthat’sboughten:
  BUTTEARUPEVERYI,O,U,ANDPLANTALLCORNANDSWEARFORTRUE
  TOQUITA-RAISIN’COTTON!
  ThusspoutedJones(wharfolkscouldhear,——AtCourtandothergatherin’s),Andthuskep’spoutin’manyayear,Proclaimin’loudlyfarandnearSichfiddlesticksandblatherin’s。
  But,oneall-firedsweatin’day,[21]
  IthappenedIwashoein’
  Mylowercorn-field,whichitlay’LongsidetheroadthatrunsmywayWharIcanseewhat’sgoin’。
  Anda’tertwelveo’clockhadcomeIfeltakinderfaggin’,Andlaidmyselfun’neathaplumToletmydinnersettlesum,When’longcomeJones’swaggin,AndJoneswassettin’init,SO:[31]
  A-readin’ofapaper。
  Hismuleswasgoin’powerfulslow,FurhehadtiedthelinesontoThestapleofthescraper。
  ThemulestheystoppedaboutarodFromme,andwenttofeedin’
  ’Longsidetheroad,uponthesod,ButJones(whichhehadtuckatod)
  Notknowin’,kepta-readin’。
  Andpresentlysayshe:"Hit’strue;[41]
  ThatClisby’sheadislevel。
  Thar’sonethingfarmersallmustdo,Tokeepthemselvesfromgoin’tewBankruptcyandthedevil!
  "Morecorn!morecorn!MUSTplantlessground,AndMUSTN’Teatwhat’sboughten!
  Nextyearthey’lldoit:reasonin’ssound:
  (And,cottonwillfetch’boutadollarapound),THARFORE,I’LLplantALLcotton!"
  ____
  Macon,Ga。,1870。
  Notes:Jones’sPrivateArgymentThethemesofthispoem,therelativeclaimsofcornandcottonupontheattentionofthefarmerandthedisastrousresultsofspeculation,aretreatedindirectlyin`Thar’sMoreintheManThanTharIsintheLand’,anddirectlyandwithconsummateartin`Corn’。
  1。"ThatairsameJones"appearsin`Thar’sMore’,etc。,writtenin1869,inwhichwearetold:
  "Andhelivedprettymuchbygittin’ofloans,Andhismuleswasnuthin’butskinandbones,Andhishogswasflatashiscorn-breadpones,Andhehad’boutathousandacreso’land。"
  HesellshisfarmtoBrownatadollarandfiftycentsanacreandgoestoTexas。Brownimprovesthefarm,and,afterfiveyears,issittingdowntoabigdinnerwhenJonesisdiscoveredstandingoutbythefence,withoutwagonormules,"furhehadleftTexasafootandcumtoGeorgytoseeifhecouldn’tgitsomeemployment。"
  BrowninvitesJonesintodinner,butcannotrefrainfromtheinference-drawingthatnamesthepoem。——"WhichlivedinJones,"
  "whichJonesisacountyofredhillsandstones"(`Thar’sMore’,etc。)
  incentralGeorgia。
  13。Readersof`DavidCopperfield’willrecallMicawber’sfrequentuseof`I-O-U-’s’。
  47。"Clisby’shead"referstoMr。JosephClisby,theneditoroftheMacon(Ga。)`TelegraphandMessenger’,whohadwritteneditorialsfavoringtheplantingofmorecorn。
  CornTo-daythewoodsaretremblingthroughandthrough[1]
  Withshimmeringforms,thatflashbeforemyview,Thenmeltingreenasdawn-starsmeltinblue。
  TheleavesthatwaveagainstmycheekcaressLikewomen’shands;theembracingboughsexpressAsubtletyofmightytenderness;
  Thecopse-depthsintolittlenoisesstart,Thatsoundanonlikebeatingsofaheart,Anonliketalk’twixtlipsnotfarapart。
  Thebeechdreamsbalm,asadreamerhumsasong;
  Throughthatvaguewafture,expirationsstrong[11]
  ThrobfromyounghickoriesbreathingdeepandlongWithstressandurgenceboldofprisonedspringAndecstasyofburgeoning。
  Now,sincethedew-plashedroadofmornisdry,ForthventureodorsofmorequalityAndheavenliergiving。LikeJove’slocksawry,LongmuscadinesRich-wreathethespaciousforeheadsofgreatpines,Andbreatheambrosialpassionfromtheirvines。
  Ipraywithmosses,ferns,andflowersshy[21]
  ThathidelikegentlenunsfromhumaneyeToliftadoringperfumestothesky。
  Ihearfaintbridal-sighsofbrownandgreenDyingtosilenthintsofkisseskeenAsfarlightsfringeintoapleasantsheen。
  Istartatfragmentarywhispers,blownFromundertalksofleafysoulsunknown,Vaguepurportssweet,ofinarticulatetone。
  Dreamingofgods,men,nuns,andbrides,betweenOldcompaniesofoaksthatinwardlean[31]
  TojointheirradiantamplitudesofgreenIslowlymove,withranginglooksthatpassUpfromthemattedmiraclesofgrassIntoyonveinedcomplexofspaceWhereskyandleafageinterlaceSoclose,theheavenofblueisseenInwovenwithaheavenofgreen。
  Iwandertothezigzag-corneredfenceWheresassafras,intrenchedinbramblesdense,Contestswithstolidvehemence[41]
  Themarchofculture,settinglimbandthornAspikesagainstthearmyofthecorn。
  There,whileIpause,myfieldward-faringeyesTakeharvests,wherethestatelycorn-ranksrise,OfinwarddignitiesAndlargebenignitiesandinsightswise,Gracesandmodestmajesties。
  Thus,withouttheft,Ireapanother’sfield;
  Thus,withouttilth,Ihouseawondrousyield,Andheapmyheartwithquintuplecropsconcealed。[51]
  Look,outoflineonetallcorn-captainstandsAdvancedbeyondtheforemostofhisbands,AndwaveshisbladesupontheveryedgeAndhottestthicketofthebattlinghedge。
  Thoulustrousstalk,thatne’ermaystwalknortalk,Stillshaltthoutypethepoet-soulsublimeThatleadsthevanwardofhistimidtimeAndsingsupcowardswithcommandingrhyme——
  Soulcalm,likethee,yetfain,likethee,togrowBydoubleincrement,above,below;[61]
  Soulhomely,asthouart,yetrichingracelikethee,TeachingtheyeomenselflesschivalryThatmovesingentlecurvesofcourtesy;
  Soulfilledlikethylongveinswithsweetnesstense,ByeverygodlikesenseTransmutedfromthefourwildelements。
  Drawntohighplans,Thoulift’stmorestaturethanamortalman’s,YeteverpiercestdownwardinthemouldAndkeepesthold[71]
  UponthereverendandsteadfastearthThatgavetheebirth;
  Yea,standestsmilinginthyfuturegrave,Sereneandbrave,WithunremittingbreathInhalinglifefromdeath,Thineepitaphwritfairinfruitageeloquent,Thyselfthymonument。
  Aspoetsshould,Thouhastbuiltupthyhardihood[81]
  Withuniversalfood,DrawninselectproportionfairFromhonestmouldandvagabondair;
  Fromdarknessofthedreadfulnight,Andjoyfullight;
  Fromantiqueashes,whosedepartedflameIntheehasfinerlifeandlongerfame;
  Fromwoundsandbalms,Fromstormsandcalms,Frompotsherdsanddrybones[91]
  Andruin-stones。
  IntothyvigoroussubstancethouhastwroughtWhate’erthehandofCircumstancehathbrought;
  Yea,intocoolsolacinggreenhastspunWhiteradiancehotfromoutthesun。
  SothoudostmutuallyleavenStrengthofearthwithgraceofheaven;
  SothoudostmarrynewandoldIntoaoneofhighermould;
  Sothoudostreconcilethehotandcold,[101]
  Thedarkandbright,Andmanyaheart-perplexingopposite,Andso,Akinbybloodtohighandlow,Fitlythouplayestoutthypoet’spart,Richlyexpendingthymuch-bruisedheartInequalcaretonourishlordinhallOrbeastinstall:
  Thoutook’stfromallthatthoumightstgivetoall。
  Osteadfastdwellerontheselfsamespot[111]
  Wherethouwastborn,thatstillrepinestnot——
  Typeofthehome-fondheart,thehappylot!——
  DeeplythymildcontentrebukesthelandWhoseflimsyhomes,builtontheshiftingsandOftrade,foreverriseandfallWithalternationwhimsical,Enduringscarceaday,ThensweptawayByswiftengulfmentsofincalculabletidesWhereoncapriciousCommercerides。[121]
  Look,thousubstantialspiritofcontent!
  Acrossthislittlevale,thycontinent,Towhere,beyondthemoulderingmill,YonolddesertedGeorgianhillBarestothesunhispiteousagedcrestAndseamybreast,Byrestless-heartedchildrenlefttolieUntendedtherebeneaththeheedlesssky,Asbarbarousfolkexposetheiroldtodie。
  Uponthatgenerous-roundingside,[131]
  WithgulliesscarifiedWherekeenNeglecthislashhathplied,DweltoneIknewofold,whoplayedattoil,AndgavetocoquetteCottonsoulandsoil。
  Scorningtheslowrewardofpatientgrain,Hesowedhisheartwithhopesofswiftergain,Thensathimdownandwaitedfortherain。
  Hesailedinborrowedshipsofusury——
  AfoolishJasononatreacheroussea,SeekingtheFleeceandfindingmisery。[141]
  Lulledbysmooth-ripplingloans,inidletranceHelay,contentthatunthriftCircumstanceShouldploughforhimthestonyfieldofChance。
  Yea,gatheringcropswhoseworthnomanmighttell,HestakedhislifeongamesofBuy-and-Sell,Andturnedeachfieldintoagambler’shell。
  Aye,aseachyearbegan,Myfarmertotheneighboringcityran;
  PassedwithamournfulanxiousfaceIntothebanker’sinnerplace;[151]
  Parleyed,excused,pleadedforlongergrace;
  Railedatthedrought,theworm,therust,thegrass;
  Protestedne’eragain’twouldcometopass;
  Withmanyan`oh’and`if’and`butalas’
  Parriedorswallowedsearchingquestionsrude,AndkissedthedusttosoftenDives’smood。
  Atlast,smallloansbypledgesgreatrenewed,Heissuessmilingfromthefataldoor,AndbuyswithlavishhandhisyearlystoreTillhissmallborrowingswillyieldnomore。[161]
  Aye,aseachyeardeclined,Withbitterheartandever-broodingmindHemournedhisfateunkind。
  Indust,inrain,withmightandmain,Henursedhiscotton,cursedhisgrain,Frettedfornewsthatmadehimfretagain,SnatchedateachtelegramofFutureSale,AndthrilledwithBulls’orBears’alternatewail——
  Inhopeorfearalikeforeverpale。
  Andthusfromyeartoyear,throughhopeandfear,[171]
  Withmanyacurseandmanyasecrettear,Strivinginvainhiscloudofdebttoclear,AtlastHewoketofindhisfoolishdreamingpast,Andallhisbest-of-lifetheeasypreyOfsquanderingscampsandquacksthatlinedhiswayWithvilearray,Fromrascalstatesmandowntopettyknave;
  Himself,atbest,forallhisbraggingbrave,Agamester’scatspawandabanker’sslave。[181]
  Then,wornandgray,andsickwithdeepunrest,HefledawayintotheobliviousWest,Unmourned,unblest。
  Oldhill!oldhill!thougashedandhairyLearWhomthedivineCordeliaoftheyear,E’enpityingSpring,willvainlystrivetocheer——
  King,thatnosubjectmannorbeastmayown,Discrowned,undaughteredandalone——
  YetshallthegreatGodturnthyfate,Andbringtheebackintothymonarchstate[191]
  Andmajestyimmaculate。
  Lo,throughhotwaveringsoftheAugustmorn,ThougivestfromthyvastysidesforlornVisionsofgoldentreasuriesofcorn——
  RipelargesselingeringforsomebolderheartThatmanfullyshalltakethypart,Andtendthee,Anddefendthee,Withantiquesinewandwithmodernart。
  ____
  Sunnyside,Ga。,August,1874。
  Notes:CornAsstatedelsewhere(`Introduction’,p。xvii[PartI]),`Corn’wasthefirstofLanier’spoemstoattractgeneralattention;
  forthisreasonaswellasforitsabsolutemeritthepoemdeservescarefulstudy。
  InthefirstofhisletterstotheHon。LoganE。Bleckley,Chief-justiceofGeorgia,datedOctober9,1874,Laniertellsushowhecametowrite`Corn’:"IencloseMS。ofapoeminwhichIhaveendeavoredtocarrysomeveryprosaicmattersuptoaloftierplane。IhavebeenstruckwithalarminseeingthenumbersofdesertedoldhomesteadsandgulliedhillsintheoldercountiesofGeorgia:and,thoughtheyaredreadfullycommonplace,Ihavethoughttheyaresurelymournfulenoughtobepoetic。"
  Intheintroductorynoteto`Jones’sPrivateArgyment’
  Ihaveincidentallystatedthethemeof`Corn’。Insteadofaddingamoredetailedstatementofmyownhere,IgiveJudgeBleckley’sanalysisofthepoem,whichoccursinhisreplytotheabove-mentionedletter。
  Aftergivingvariousminutecriticism(forLanierhadrequestedhisunreservedjudgment),JudgeBleckleycontinues:
  "Now,forthegeneralimpressionwhichyourOdehasmadeuponme。
  Itpresentsfourpictures;threeofthemlandscapesandoneaportrait。
  Youpaintthewoods,acorn-field,andaworn-outhill。
  Theseareyourlandscapes。Andyourportraitisthelikenessofananxious,unthriftycotton-planterwhoalwaysspendshiscropbeforehehasmadeit,borrowsonheavyinteresttocarryhimselfoverfromyeartoyear,wearsouthisland,meetsatlastwithutterruin,andmigratestotheWest。
  Yoursecondlandscapeisturnedintoavegetableperson,andyougiveitsportraitwithmanytouchesofmarvelandmysteryinvegetablelife。YourthirdlandscapetakesforaninstanttheformandtragicstateofKingLear;youthusmakeitseizeonoursympathiesasifitwerearealperson,andyouthenrestoreittotheinanimate,andcontemplateitspossiblebeneficenceinthedistantfuture。"
  Acomparisonofthefirstdraftof`Corn’,assentJudgeBleckley,withthefinalformshowsthatLaniermademanyminutechangesinthepoem,especiallyintheearlierpart。Stillthisearlierdraftagreessubstantiallywiththelater,andwassofineinconceptionandexecutionastocallforththiscommendationofJudgeBleckley,which,despitetheshortcomingsof`Corn’,maywithgreaterjusticebeappliedtothepoeminitspresentform:"AsanartistyouseemtobeItalianinthefirsttwopictures,andDutchorFlemishinthelattertwo。
  InyourItalianveinyoupaintwiththeutmostdelicacyandfinish。
  Thedrawingisscrupulouslycorrectandthecolorsoftandharmonious。
  WhenyoupaintinDutchorFlemishyouareclearandstrong,butsometimeshard。Thereislessidealizationandmoreoftherealisticelement——yourSOLIDSpredominateoveryourfluids。"
  Asalreadystated,Lanierhastwootherpoemsthatindirectlytreatthethemeof`Corn’,namely,`Thar’sMoreintheMan’and`Jones’sPrivateArgyment’。
  Moreover,hehas`TheWavingoftheCorn’,which,thoughcharming,isneithersoelaboratenorartisticas`Corn’。
  Amongpoemsoncornbyotherwritersmaybementionedthefollowing:
  1。Whittier’s`TheCorn-song’(before1872),apoemofpraiseandthanksgivingattheendof`TheHuskers’,whichtellsofthegatheringofthecornandofthe"corn-husking",knownintheSouthasthe"corn-shucking"。
  2。Woolson’s(ConstanceF。)`CornFields’,adescriptionofOhiofields,in`Harper’sMonthly’,45,444,Aug。,1872。
  3。Thompson’s(Maurice)`DroppingCorn’(1877),adaintylovelyric,in`Poems’(Boston,1892),p。78。
  4。Cromwell’s(S。C。)`Corn-shuckingSong’,adialectpoem,in`Harper’,69,807,Oct。,1884。
  5。Coleman’s(C。W。)`Corn’,in`TheAtlanticMonthly’,70,228,Aug。,1892,which,sinceitconsistsofbutfourlinesandismorelikeLanier’spoemthanaretheothers,maybequoted:
  "DrawnupinserriedranksacrossthefieldsThat,aswegaze,seemevertoincrease,Withtasseledflagsandsun-emblazonedshields,Thegloriousarmyofearth’sperfectpeace。"
  6。Hayne’s(W。H。)`AmidtheCorn’,acharmingaccountofthedenizensofthecorn-fields,inhis`SylvanLyrics’(NewYork,1893),p。12。
  7。Dumas’s(W。T。)`Corn-shucking’and`TheLastEarofCorn’,bothlife-likepicturesofplantationlife,inhis`TheGoldenDayandMiscellaneousPoems’(Phila。,1893)。
  Otherinterestingarticlesare:`Mondamin,ortheOriginofIndianCorn’,in`TheSouthernLiteraryMessenger’(Richmond,Va。),29,12-13,July,1859;
  `AGeorgiaCorn-shucking’,byD。C。Barrow,Jr。,in`TheCenturyMagazine’
  (NewYork),2,873-878,Oct。,1882;and`OldAmericanCustoms:ACorn-party’,anaccountofacorn-huskinginNewYork,in`TheSaturdayReview’(London),66,237-238,Aug。25,1888。
  4-9。See`Introduction’,p。xxxii[PartIII],andcompare`TheSymphony’,ll。183-190。
  18。PaulHamiltonHayne,whoseloveofnaturerivalsLanier’s,hasaninterestingpoementitled`Muscadines’(`Poems’,Boston,1882,pp。222-224)。
  21。Compare`TheSymphony’,l。117ff。
  57。See`Introduction’,p。l[PartV]。
  125。Inherintroductorynoteto`Corn’Mrs。Lanierthuslocalizesthepoem:
  "His`fieldward-faringeyestookharvest’`amongthestatelycorn-ranks,’
  inaportionofmiddleGeorgiasixtymilestothenorthofMacon。
  ItisahightractofcountryfromwhichonelooksacrossthelowerreachestothedistantBlueRidgeMountains,whosewholesomebreath,allunobstructed,hereblendswiththewoods-odorsofthebeech,thehickory,andthemuscadine:apartofarangerecalledelsewherebyMr。Lanieras`thatamplestretchofgeneroussoil,wheretheAppalachianruggednessescalmthemselvesintopleasanthillsbeforedyingquiteawayintothesea-boardlevels’——where`amancanfindsuchtemperancesofheavenandearth——enoughofstrugglewithnaturetodrawoutmanhood,withenoughofbountytosanctionthestruggle——
  thatamoreexquisiteco-adaptationofallblessedcircumstancesforman’slifeneednotbesought。’"
  140。See`Jason’inanyDictionaryofMythology。*
  ——
  *Gayley’s`TheClassicMythsinEnglishLiterature’(Boston,Ginn&Co。)
  isanexcellentbook。
  ——
  157。`Dives’:SeeAppendixtoWebster’s`InternationalDictionary’。
  168。`FutureSale’——saleforfuturedelivery。
  185-6。SeeShakespeare’s`KingLear’。
  MySpringsIntheheartoftheHillsofLife,Iknow[1]
  TwospringsthatwithunbrokenflowForeverpourtheirlucentstreamsIntomysoul’sfarLakeofDreams。
  Notlargerthantwoeyes,theylieBeneaththemany-changingskyAndmirroralloflifeandtime,——Sereneanddaintypantomime。
  Shotthroughwithlightsofstarsanddawns,Andshadowedsweetbyfernsandfawns,——Thusheavenandearthtogethervie[11]
  Theirshiningdepthstosanctify。
  AlwayswhenthelargeFormofLoveIshidbystormsthatrageabove,IgazeinmytwospringsandseeLoveinhisveryverity。
  AlwayswhenFaithwithstiflingstressOfgriefhathdiedinbitterness,IgazeinmytwospringsandseeAFaiththatsmilesimmortally。
  AlwayswhenCharityandHope,[21]
  Indarknessbounden,feeblygrope,IgazeinmytwospringsandseeALightthatsetsmycaptivesfree。
  Always,whenArtonperversewingFlieswhereIcannothearhimsing,IgazeinmytwospringsandseeAcharmthatbringshimbacktome。
  WhenLaborfaints,andGloryfails,AndcoyRewardinsighsexhales,Igazeinmytwospringsandsee[31]
  Attainmentfullandheavenly。
  OLove,OWife,thineeyesarethey,——MyspringsfromoutwhoseshininggrayIssuethesweetcelestialstreamsThatfeedmylife’sbrightLakeofDreams。
  Ovalandlargeandpassion-pureAndgrayandwiseandhonor-sure;
  Softasadyingviolet-breathYetcalmlyunafraidofdeath;
  Thronged,liketwodove-cotesofgraydoves,[41]
  Withwife’sandmother’sandpoor-folk’sloves,Andhome-lovesandhighglory-lovesAndscience-lovesandstory-loves,AndlovesforallthatGodandmanInartandnaturemakeorplan,Andlady-lovesforspiderylaceAndbroideriesandsupplegraceAnddiamondsandthewholesweetroundOflittlesthatlargelifecompound,AndlovesforGodandGod’sbaretruth,[51]
  AndlovesforMagdalenandRuth,Deareyes,deareyesandrarecomplete——
  Beingheavenly-sweetandearthly-sweet,——ImarvelthatGodmadeyoumine,ForwhenHefrowns,’tisthenyeshine!
  ____
  Baltimore,1874。
  Notes:MySpringsFormyappreciationofthistributetothepoet’swifesee`Introduction’,p。xxxv[PartIII]。Mr。Lanier’sestimateisgiveninaletterofMarch,1874,quotedinMrs。Lanier’sintroductorynote:
  "Ofcourse,sinceIhavewrittenittoprintIcannotmakeitsuchas_I_desireinartisticdesign:fortheformsofto-dayrequireacertaintrimsmugnessandclean-shavenproprietyinthefaceanddressofapoem,andImustwinahearingbyconforminginsomedegreetothesetyrannies,withaviewtooverturningtheminthefuture。Writtenso,itisnotnearlysobeautifulasIwouldhaveit;andIthereforehaveanotherstillinmyheart,whichIwillsomedaywriteformyself。"
  Othertributestohiswifeare:`InAbsence’,`Acknowledgment’,`LausMariae’,`SpecialPleading’,`EveningSong’,`ThouandI’,`OneinTwo’,and`TwoinOne’;whilesheisreferredtoin`TheHardTimesinElfland’and`JuneDreamsinJanuary’。
  Itwillbeinterestingtocompare`MySprings’withotherpoemsontheeyes。
  Amongthemostnoteworthy*maybecitedShakespeare’s"Andthoseeyes,thebreakofday,Lightsthatdomisleadthemorn;"
  Lodge’s"Hereyesaresapphiressetinsnow,Resemblingheavenbyeverywink;
  TheGodsdofearwhenastheyglow,AndIdotremblewhenIthink,Heighho,wouldsheweremine!"
  Jonson’s"DrinktomeonlywiththineeyesAndIwillpledgewithmine,"etc。;
  Herrick’s"Sweet,benotproudofthosetwoeyesWhichstarlikesparkleintheirskies;"
  ThomasStanley’s"Ohturnawaythosecrueleyes,Thestarsofmyundoing;
  OrdeathinsuchabrightdisguiseMaytemptasecondwooing;"
  Byron’s"Shewalksinbeauty,likethenight,Ofcloudlessclimesandstarryskies;
  Andallthat’sbestofdarkandbrightMeetinheraspectandhereyes;
  ThusmellowedtothattenderlightWhichheaventogaudydaydenies;"
  H。Coleridge’s"Sheisnotfairtooutwardview,Asmanymaidensbe;
  HerlovelinessIneverknewUntilshesmiledonme。
  OthenIsawhereyewasbright,Awelloflove,aspringoflight。
  "Butnowherlooksarecoyandcold,Tominetheyne’erreply,AndyetIceasenottobeholdThelove-lightinhereye:
  HerveryfrownsarefairerfarThansmilesofothermaidensare;"
  andWordsworth’s"Hereyesarestarsoftwilightfair。"
  ——
  *ThesemaybefoundeitherinGosse’s`EnglishLyrics’(D。Appleton&Co。,NewYork)orinPalgrave’s`GoldenTreasuryofSongsandLyrics’
  (Macmillan&Co。,NewYork)。
  ——
  49-50。See`Introduction’,p。xlv[PartIV]。
  52。ThereisinearlyEnglishliteratureamostinterestingplayentitled`MaryMagdalene’:seePollard’s`EnglishMiraclePlays’(NewYork),whereextractsaregiven。
  55-56。See`Introduction’,p。xlvi[PartIV]。
  TheSymphony"OTrade!OTrade!wouldthouwertdead![1]
  TheTimeneedsheart——’tistiredofhead:
  We’reallforlove,"theviolinssaid。
  "OfwhatavailtherigoroustaleOfbillforcoinandboxforbale?
  Grantthee,OTrade!thineuttermosthope:
  Levelredgoldwithbluesky-slope,Andbaseitdeepasdevilsgrope:
  Whenall’sdone,whathastthouwonOftheonlysweetthat’sunderthesun?
  Ay,canstthoubuyasinglesigh[11]
  Oftruelove’sleast,leastecstasy?"
  Then,withabridegroom’sheart-beatstrembling,AllthemightierstringsassemblingRangedthemontheviolins’sideAswhenthebridegroomleadsthebride,And,heartinvoice,togethercried:
  "Yea,whatavailtheendlesstaleOfgainbycunningandplusbysale?
  Lookuptheland,lookdowntheland,Thepoor,thepoor,thepoor,theystand[21]
  WedgedbythepressingofTrade’shandAgainstaninward-openingdoorThatpressuretightensevermore:
  Theysighamonstrousfoul-airsighFortheoutsideleaguesofliberty,WhereArt,sweetlark,translatestheskyIntoaheavenlymelody。
  `Eachday,allday’(thesepoorfolkssay),`Inthesameoldyear-long,drear-longway,Weweaveinthemillsandheaveinthekilns,[31]
  Wesievemine-meshesunderthehills,AndthievemuchgoldfromtheDevil’sbanktills,Torelieve,OGod,whatmannerofills?——
  Thebeasts,theyhunger,andeat,anddie;
  Andsodowe,andtheworld’sasty;
  Hush,fellow-swine:whynuzzleandcry?
  "Swinehoodhathnoremedy"
  Saymanymen,andhastenby,Clampingthenoseandblinkingtheeye。
  Butwhosaidonce,inthelordlytone,[41]
  "ManshallnotlivebybreadaloneButallthatcomethfromtheThrone?"
  HathGodsaidso?
  ButTradesaith"No":
  Andthekilnsandthecurt-tonguedmillssay"Go:
  There’splentythatcan,ifyoucan’t:weknow。
  Moveout,ifyouthinkyou’reunderpaid。
  Thepoorareprolific;we’renotafraid;
  Tradeistrade。"’"
  Thereatthispassionateprotesting[51]
  Meeklychanged,andsoftenedtillItsanktosadrequestingAndsuggestingsadderstill:
  "Andoh,ifmenmightsometimeseeHowpiteous-falsethepoordecreeThattradenomorethantrademustbe!
  Doesbusinessmean,"Die,you——live,I"?
  Then`Tradeistrade’butsingsalie:
  ’Tisonlywargrownmiserly。
  Ifbusinessisbattle,nameitso:[61]
  War-crimeslesswillshameitso,Andwidowslesswillblameitso。
  Alas,forthepoortohavesomepartInyonsweetlivinglandsofArt,Makesproblemnotforhead,butheart。
  VainlymightPlato’sbrainrevolveit:
  Plainlytheheartofachildcouldsolveit。"
  Andthen,aswhenfromwordsthatseembutrudeWepasstosilentpainthatsitsabroodBackinourheart’sgreatdarkandsolitude,[71]
  SosankthestringstogentlethrobbingOflongchordschange-markedwithsobbing——
  Motherlysobbing,notdistinctlierheardThanhalfwing-openingsofthesleepingbird,Somedreamofdangertoheryounghathstirred。
  Thenstirringanddemurringceased,andlo!
  Everyleastrippleofthestrings’song-flowDiedtoalevelwitheachlevelbowAndmadeagreatchordtranquil-surfacedso,Asabrookbeneathhiscurvingbankdothgo[81]
  TolingerinthesacreddarkandgreenWheremanyboughsthestillpooloverleanAndmanyleavesmakeshadowwiththeirsheen。
  ButpresentlyAvelvetflute-notefelldownpleasantlyUponthebosomofthatharmony,Andsailedandsailedincessantly,Asifapetalfromawild-roseblownHadfluttereddownuponthatpooloftoneAndboatwisedroppedo’theconvexside[91]