第3章
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  AndfloateddowntheglassytideAndclarifiedandglorifiedThesolemnspaceswheretheshadowsbide。

  FromthewarmconcaveofthatflutednoteSomewhat,halfsong,halfodor,forthdidfloat,Asifarosemightsomehowbeathroat:

  \"WhenNaturefromherfar-offglenFluteshersoftmessagestomen,Theflutecansaythemo’eragain;

  Yea,Nature,singingsweetandlone,[101]

  Breathesthroughlife’sstridentpolyphoneTheflute-voiceintheworldoftone。

  Sweetfriends,Man’sloveascendsTofineranddivinerendsThanman’smerethoughte’ercomprehendsForI,e’enI,AshereIlie,Apetalonaharmony,DemandofSciencewhenceandwhy[111]

  Man’stenderpain,man’sinwardcry,Whenhedothgazeonearthandsky?

  Iamnotoverbold:

  IholdFullpowersfromNaturemanifold。

  Ispeakforeachno-tonguedtreeThat,springbyspring,dothnoblerbe,AnddumblyandmostwistfullyHismightyprayerfularmsoutspreadsAbovemen’soft-unheedingheads,[121]

  Andhisbigblessingdownwardsheds。

  Ispeakforall-shapedbloomsandleaves,Lichensonstonesandmossoneaves,Grassesandgrainsinranksandsheaves;

  Broad-frondedfernsandkeen-leavedcanes,Andbrierymazesboundinglanes,Andmarsh-plants,thirsty-cuppedforrains,Andmilkystemsandsugaryveins;

  Foreverylong-armedwoman-vineThatroundapiteoustreedothtwine;[131]

  Forpassionateodors,anddivinePistils,andpetalscrystalline;

  Allpuritiesofshadysprings,Allshynessesoffilm-wingedthingsThatflyfromtree-trunksandbark-rings;

  Allmodestiesofmountain-fawnsThatleaptocovertfromwildlawns,Andtrembleifthedaybutdawns;

  AllsparklingsofsmallbeadyeyesOfbirds,andsidelongglanceswise[141]

  Wherewiththejayhintstragedies;

  Allpiquanciesofpricklyburs,AndsmoothnessesofdownsandfursOfeidersandofminevers;

  AlllimpidhoneysthatdolieAtstamen-bases,nordenyThehumming-birds’fineroguery,Bee-thighs,noranybutterfly;

  Allgraciouscurvesofslenderwings,Bark-mottlings,fibre-spiralings,[151]

  Fern-wavingsandleaf-flickerings;

  Eachdial-markedleafandflower-bellWherewithineverylonesomedellTimetohimselfhishoursdothtell;

  Alltree-sounds,rustlingsofpine-cones,Wind-sighings,doves’melodiousmoans,Andnight’sunearthlyunder-tones;

  Allplacidlakesandwavelessdeeps,Allcoolreposingmountain-steeps,Vale-calmsandtranquillotos-sleeps;——[161]

  Yea,allfairforms,andsounds,andlights,Andwarmths,andmysteries,andmights,OfNature’sutmostdepthsandheights,——Thesedothmytimidtonguepresent,TheirmouthpieceandlealinstrumentAndservant,alllove-eloquent。

  Iheard,when`ALLFORLOVE’theviolinscried:

  So,Naturecallsthroughallhersystemwide,`Givemethylove,Oman,solongdenied。’

  Muchtimeisrun,andmanhathchangedhisways,[171]

  SinceNature,intheantiquefable-days,Washidfromman’struelovebyproxyfays,Falsefaunsandrascalgodsthatstoleherpraise。

  Thenymphs,coldcreaturesofman’scolderbrain,ChilledNature’sstreamstillman’swarmheartwasfainNevertolaveitsloveinthemagain。

  Later,asweetVoice`Lovethyneighbor’said;

  ThenfirsttheboundsofneighborhoodoutspreadBeyondallconfinesofoldethnicdread。

  VainlytheJewmightwaghiscovenanthead:[181]

  `ALLMENARENEIGHBORS,’sothesweetVoicesaid。

  So,whenman’sarmshadcircledallman’srace,TheliberalcompassofhiswarmembraceStretchedbiggeryetinthedarkboundsofspace;

  Withhandsa-gropehefeltsmoothNature’sgrace,Drewhertobreastandkissedhersweetheartface:

  YeamanfoundneighborsingreathillsandtreesAndstreamsandcloudsandsunsandbirdsandbees,Andthrobbedwithneighbor-lovesinlovingthese。

  Butoh,thepoor!thepoor!thepoor![191]

  Thatstandbytheinward-openingdoorTrade’shanddothtightenevermore,Andsightheirmonstrousfoul-airsighFortheoutsidehillsofliberty,WhereNaturespreadsherwildblueskyForArttomakeintomelody!

  ThouTrade!thoukingofthemoderndays!

  Changethyways,Changethyways;

  Letthesweatylaborersfile[201]

  Alittlewhile,Alittlewhile,WhereArtandNaturesingandsmile。

  Trade!isthyheartalldead,alldead?

  Andhastthounothingbutahead?

  I’mallforheart,\"theflute-voicesaid,Andintosuddensilencefled,Likeasablushthatwhile’tisredDiestoastill,stillwhiteinstead。

  Theretoathrillingcalmsucceeds,[211]

  TillpresentlythesilencebreedsAlittlebreezeamongthereedsThatseemstoblowbysea-marshweeds:

  ThenfromthegentlestirandfretSingsoutthemeltingclarionet,LikeasaladysingswhileyetHereyeswithsaltytearsarewet。

  \"OTrade!OTrade!\"theLadysaid,\"ItoowillwishtheeutterlydeadIfallthyheartisinthyhead。[221]

  ForOmyGod!andOmyGod!

  WhatshamefulwayshavewomentrodAtbeckoningofTrade’sgoldenrod!

  Alaswhensighsaretraders’lies,Andheart’s-easeeyesandvioleteyesAremerchandise!

  Opurchasedlipsthatkisswithpain!

  Ocheekscoin-spottedwithsmirchandstain!

  Otraffickedheartsthatbreakintwain!

  ——Andyetwhatwonderatmysisters’crime?[231]

  SohathTradewitheredupLove’ssinewyprime,Menlovenotwomenasinoldentime。

  Ah,notinthesecoldmerchantabledaysDeemmentheirlifeanopalgray,whereplaysTheoneredSweetofgraciousladies’-praise。

  Now,comesasuitorwithsharppryingeye——

  Says,`Here,youLady,ifyou’llsellI’llbuy:

  Come,heartforheart——atrade?What!weeping?why?’

  Shameonsuchwooers’dappermercery!

  Iwouldmyloverkneelingatmyfeet[241]

  Inhumblemanlinessshouldcry,`Osweet!

  Iknownotifthyheartmyheartwillgreet:

  Iasknotifthylovemylovecanmeet:

  Whate’erthyworshipfulsofttongueshallsay,I’llkissthineanswer,beityeaornay:

  IdobutknowIlovethee,andIprayTobethyknightuntilmydyingday。’

  Woehimthatcunningtradesinheartscontrives!

  Baselovegoodwomentobaselovingdrives。

  Ifmenlovedlarger,largerwereourlives;[251]

  Andwooedtheynobler,wontheynoblerwives。\"

  TherethrusttheboldstraightforwardhornTobattleforthatladylorn,Withheartsomevoiceofmellowscorn,Likeanyknightinknighthood’smorn。

  \"Nowcomfortthee,\"saidhe,\"FairLady。

  ForGodshallrightthygrievouswrong,Andmanshallsingtheeatrue-lovesong,Voicedinacthiswholelifelong,[261]

  Yea,allthysweetlifelong,FairLady。

  Where’shethatcraftilyhathsaid,Thedayofchivalryisdead?

  I’llprovethatlieuponhishead,OrIwilldieinstead,FairLady。

  IsHonorgoneintohisgrave?

  HathFaithbecomeacaitiffknave,AndSelfhoodturnedintoaslave[271]

  ToworkinMammon’scave,FairLady?

  WillTruth’slongbladene’ergleamagain?

  HathGiantTradeindungeonsslainAllgreatcontemptsofmean-gotgainAndhatesofinwardstain,FairLady?

  Forayeshallnameandfamebesold,Andplacebehuggedforthesakeofgold,Andsmirch-robedJusticefeeblyscold[281]

  AtCrimeallmoney-bold,FairLady?

  Shallself-wrapthusbandsayeforgetKiss-pardonsforthedailyfretWherewithsweetwifelyeyesarewet——

  Blindtolipskiss-wiseset——

  FairLady?

  Shalllovershiggle,heartforheart,TillwooinggrowsatradingmartWheremuchforlittle,andallforpart,[291]

  Makeloveacheapeningart,FairLady?

  ShallwomanscorchforasinglesinThatherbetrayermayrevelin,Andshebeburnt,andhebutgrinWhenthattheflamesbegin,FairLady?

  Shallne’erprevailthewoman’splea,`Wemaidswouldfar,farwhiterbeIfthatoureyesmightsometimessee[301]

  Menmaidsinpurity,’

  FairLady?

  ShallTradeayesalvehisconscience-achesWithjibesatChivalry’soldmistakes——

  Thewarsthato’erhotknighthoodmakesForChrist’sandladies’sakes,FairLady?

  Nowbyeachknightthate’erhathprayedTofightlikeamanandlovelikeamaid,SincePembroke’slife,asPembroke’sblade,[311]

  I’thescabbard,death,waslaid,FairLady,IdareavouchmyfaithisbrightThatGoddothrightandGodhathmight。

  NortimehathchangedHishairtowhite,NorHisdearlovetospite,FairLady。

  Idoubtnodoubts:Istrive,andshrivemyclay,AndfightmyfightinthepatientmodernwayFortrueloveandforthee——ahme!andpray[321]

  Tobethyknightuntilmydyingday,FairLady。\"

  Madeendthatknightlyhorn,andspurredawayIntothethickofthemelodiousfray。

  Andthenthehautboyplayedandsmiled,Andsanglikeanylarge-eyedchild,Cool-heartedandallundefiled。

  \"HugeTrade!\"hesaid,\"WouldthouwouldstliftmeonthyheadAndrunwhere’ermyfingerled![331]

  OncesaidaMan——andwisewasHe——

  `Nevershaltthoutheheavenssee,Saveasalittlechildthoube。’\"

  Theno’ersea-lashingsofcomminglingtunesTheancientwisebassoons,LikeweirdGray-beardOldharperssittingonthehighsea-dunes,Chantedrunes:

  \"Bright-wavedgain,gray-wavedloss,[341]

  Theseaofalldothlashandtoss,Onewaveforwardandoneacross:

  Butnow’twastrough,now’tiscrest,Andworstdothfoamandflashtobest,Andcursttoblest。

  \"Life!Life!thousea-fugue,writfromeasttowest,Love,LovealonecanporeOnthydissolvingscoreOfharshhalf-phrasings,Blottederewrit,[351]

  AnddoubleerasingsOfchordsmostfit。

  Yea,Love,solemusic-masterblest,Mayreadthywelteringpalimpsest。

  TofollowTime’sdyingmelodiesthrough,Andnevertolosetheoldinthenew,Andevertosolvethediscordstrue——

  Lovealonecando。

  AndeverLovehearsthepoor-folks’crying,AndeverLovehearsthewomen’ssighing,[361]

  Andeversweetknighthood’sdeath-defying,Andeverwisechildhood’sdeepimplying,Butneveratrader’sglozingandlying。

  \"AndyetshallLovehimselfbeheard,Thoughlongdeferred,thoughlongdeferred:

  O’erthemodernwasteadovehathwhirred:

  MusicisLoveinsearchofaword。\"

  ____

  Baltimore,1875。

  Notes:TheSymphonyThe`Introduction’(pp。xxviiif。,xxxiiiff。[PartIII],xlvii[PartIV])

  gives,besidestheplanof`TheSymphony’,adetailedstatementofitstwothemes,——theevilsofthetrade-spiritinthecommercialandsocialworldandtheneedineachofthelove-spirit。

  Thesequestionspreyedonthepoet’smindandweretobetreatedatlengthin`TheJacquerie’also,whichheexpectedtomakehisgreatwork,butwhichhewasunabletocomplete。ThishetellsusinanoblepassagetoJudgeBleckley,inhisletterofNovember15,1874。Afterdeploringthelackoftimeforliterarylabor(seequotationin`Introduction’,p。xlvi[PartIV]),hecontinues:\"Imanagetogetalittletimetho’

  toworkonwhatistobemyfirst`magnumopus’,alongpoem,foundedonthatstrangeuprisinginthemiddleofthefourteenthcenturyinFrance,called`TheJacquerie’。Itwasthefirsttimethatthebighungersof`thePeople’appearinourmoderncivilization;

  anditisfullofsignificance。ThepeasantslearnedfromthemerchantpotentatesofFlandersthatamanwhocouldnotbealordbybirth,mightbeonebywealth;andsoTradearose,andoverthrewChivalry。Tradehasnowhadpossessionofthecivilizedworldforfourhundredyears:itcontrolsallthings,itinterpretstheBible,itguidesournationalandalmostallourindividuallifewithitsmaxims;

  anditsoppressionsuponthemoralexistenceofmanhavecometobetenthousandtimesmoregrievousthantheworsttyranniesoftheFeudalSystemeverwere。Thusinthereversalsoftime,itisNOWtheGENTLEMAN

  whomustriseandoverthrowTrade。Thatchivalrywhicheverymanhas,insomedegree,inhisheart;whichdoesnotdependuponbirth,butwhichisarevelationfromGodofjustice,offairdealing,ofscornofmeanadvantages;whichcontemnsthesellingofstockwhichoneKNOWSisgoingtofall,toamanwhoBELIEVESitisgoingtorise,asmuchasitwouldcontemnanyotherformofrascalityorofinjusticeorofmeanness;——itisthiswhichmustintheselatterdaysorganizeitsinsurrectionsandburnupeveryoneofthecunningmoralcastlesfromwhichTradesendsoutitsforaysupontheconscienceofmodernsociety。

  ——Thisisabouttheplanwhichistorunthroughmybook:

  thoughIconcealitundertheformofapurenovel。\"

  Mr。F。F。Browneisdoubtlessrightinsayingthat`TheSymphony’recallspartsofTennyson’s`Maud’,buttheclosestcongenersof`TheSymphony’

  inEnglishare,Ithink,Langland’s`PiersThePlowman’inpoetryandRuskin’s`UntoThisLast’inprose。Widelyasthesetwoworksdifferfrom`TheSymphony’inform,theyareonewithitinpurposeandinspirit。Allthreevoicetheoutcryofthepooragainstthehardnessoftheirlotandtheirlongingforalargerlife;

  allthreeshowthattheonlyhopeofreliefliesinabroaderanddeeperloveforhumanity。Analoguestoindividualversesof`TheSymphony’

  arecitedbelow。

  1-2。See`Introduction’,p。xxviii[PartIII]。

  31-61。See`Introduction’,p。xxix[PartIII]。

  42-43。SeeSt。Matthew4:4。

  55-60。ItispreciselythisevilthatRuskinhasinmind,Itakeit,whenhecondemnsthecommercialtext,\"Buyinthecheapestmarketandsellinthedearest,\"andwhenhedeclaresthat\"Competitionisthelawofdeath\"

  (`UntoThisLast’,pp。40,59)。

  117。Compare`Corn’,l。21ff。

  161。For`lotos-sleeps’seeTennyson’s`TheLotos-eaters’,whichalmostlullsonetosleep,and`TheOdyssey’ix。80-104。

  178。SeeSt。Matthew19:19。

  182。SeeSt。Luke10:29,ff。

  183-190。Compare`Corn’,ll。4-9,andsee`Introduction’,p。xxxii[PartIII]。

  232-248。See`Introduction’,p。xxxivf。,andPeacock’s`LadyClarinda’sSong’(Gosse’s`EnglishLyrics’)。

  294-298。See`Tiger-lilies’,p。49,and`Betrayal’inLanier’scomplete`Poems’,p。213。Theselinesof`TheSymphony’showclearlythatLanierdidnotbelievethatGodmadeonelawformanandanotherforwoman,orthatoneverygrievoussinshouldforeverblightawoman’slife。

  WhatChristhimselfthoughtisclearfromSt。Luke7:36-50,andSt。John8:1-11。

  302。See`Introduction’,p。liv[PartVI]。

  326。Forafullaccountofthe`hautboy’andothermusicalinstrumentsmentionedinthepoemseeLanier’s`TheOrchestraofTo-day’,citedinthe`Bibliography’。

  359。See`Introduction’,p。xxxvi[PartIII]。Compare1Corinthians13;

  Drummond’s`TheGreatestThingintheWorld’;WilliamMorris’s`LoveIsEnough’;`AuroraLeigh’,Bookix。:

  \"Artismuch,butLoveismore!

  OArt,myArt,thou’rtmuch,butLoveismore!

  ArtsymbolizesHeaven,butLoveisGodAndmakesHeaven;\"

  andLangland’s`PiersthePlowman’(ed。bySkeat,i。202-3):

  \"LoveislecheoflyfandnexteoureLordeselve,Andalsothegraithgatethatgothintohevene。\"*

  ——

  *Thetwolinesmaybetranslated:\"LoveisthephysicianoflifeandnexttoourLordhimself;moreover,itisthewaythatgoesstraighttoHeaven。\"

  ——

  368。See`Introduction’,p。xxxii[PartIII]。

  ThePowerofPrayer;or,TheFirstSteamboatuptheAlabamaBySidneyandCliffordLanierYou,Dinah!Comeandsetmewharderibber-roadsdoesmeet。[1]

  DeLord,HEmadedeseblack-jackrootstotwis’intoaseat。

  Umphdar!DeLordhavemussyondisblin’oldnigger’sfeet。

  It’peartomedismornin’Ikinsmelldefusto’June。

  I’clar’,Ib’lievedatmockin’-birdcouldplaydefiddlesoon!

  Demyondertown-bellssoundslikedeywasringin’indemoon。

  Well,efdisniggerISbeenblindforfo’tyyearormo’,Deseears,DEYseesdeworld,like,th’u’decracksdat’sindedo’。

  FordeLordhasbuiltdisbodywiddewindows’hindand’fo’。

  IknowmyfrontonesISstoppedup,andthingsissorto’dim,Butden,th’u’DEM,temptation’srainwon’tleakinonoleJim![11]

  Debackonesshowmeearthenough,aldo’dey’smons’ousslim。

  AndasforHebben,——blessdeLord,andpraiseHisholyname——

  DATshinesinalldeco’nersofdiscabinjes’desameAsefdatcabinhadn’tnar’aplankupondeframe!

  WhoCALLme?Listendownderibber,Dinah!Don’tyouhyarSomebodyholl’in’\"HOO,JIM,HOO?\"MySarahdiedlas’y’ar;

  ISdatblackangeldonecomebacktocalloleJimf’omhyar?

  Mystars,datcain’tbeSarah,shuh!Jes’listen,Dinah,NOW!

  WhatKINbecomin’updatbend,a-makin’sicharow?

  Fus’bellerin’likeapawin’bull,densquealin’likeasow?[21]

  DeLord’a’mussysakesalive,jes’hear,——ker-woof,ker-woof——

  DeDebble’scomin’rounddatbend,he’scomin’shuhenuff,A-splashin’updewaterwidhistailandwidhishoof!

  I’sepow’fulskeered;butneversomelessIain’tgwinerunaway:

  I’mgwinetostandstiff-leggedfordeLorddisblessedday。

  YOUscreech,andswishdewater,Satan!I’seagwinetopray。

  OhebbenlyMarster,whatthouwillest,datmus’bejes’so,AndefThouhastbespokedeword,somenigger’sboundtogo。

  Den,Lord,pleasetakeoleJim,andlefyoungDinahhyarbelow!

  ’ScuseDinah,’scuseher,Marster;forshe’ssichalittlechile,[31]

  Shehardlyjes’begintoscrambleupdehomeyardstile,Butdisoletraveller’sfeetbeentireddismanyamanyamile。

  I’sewuflessasderottenpoleoflas’year’sfodder-stack。

  Derheumatizdonebitmybones;youhear’emcrackandcrack?

  Icain’stsitdown’doutgruntin’like’twasbreakin’o’myback。

  Whatusedewheel,whenhubandspokesiswarpedandsplit,androtten?

  Whatusedisdried-upcotton-stalk,whenLifedonepickedmycotton?

  I’selikeaworddatsomebodysaid,anddendonebeenforgotten。

  But,Dinah!Shuhdatgaljes’likedislittlehick’rytree,Desap’sjes’risin’inher;shedogrowowdaciouslee——[41]

  Lord,efyou’sclarin’deunderbrush,don’tcutherdown,cutme!

  Iwouldnotproudpersume——butI’llboldlymakereques’;

  SenceJacobhaddatwrastlin’-match,I,too,gwinedomybes’;

  WhenJacobgotallunderholt,deLordheansweredYes!

  Andwhatforwastedevittles,now,andth’owawaydebread,Jes’fortostrengthdeseidlehandstoscratchdisolebaldhead?

  T’inkofde’conomy,Marster,efdisoleJimwasdead!

  Stop;——efIdon’tbelievedeDebble’sgoneonupdestream!

  Jes’nowhesquealeddowndar;——hush;dat’samightyweaklyscream!

  Yas,sir,he’sgone,he’sgone;——hesnortwayoff,likeinadream![51]

  OgloryhallelujahtodeLorddatreignsonhigh!

  DeDebble’sfai’lyskeeredtodef,hedonegoneflyin’by;

  Iknow’dhecouldn’tstanddatpra’r,IfeltmyMarsternigh!

  You,Dinah;ain’tyou’shamed,now,datyoudidn’trusttograce?

  Iheerdyouthrashin’th’u’debusheswhenheshowedhisface!

  Youfool,youthinkdeDebblecouldn’tbeatYOUinarace?

  Itellyou,Dinah,jes’asshuhasyouisstandin’dar,Whenfolksstartsprayin’,answer-angelsdropsdownth’u’dea’r。

  YAS,DINAH,WHAR’OULDYOUBENOW,JES’’CEPTIN’FURDATPRA’R?

  ____

  Baltimore,1875。

  Notes:ThePowerofPrayer;or,TheFirstSteamboatuptheAlabamaAsthetitle-pageshows,`ThePowerofPrayer’isthejointproductionofSidneyandCliffordLanier。ThelattergentlemaninformsmethatoncehereadanewspaperscrapofabouttenlinesstatingthataNegroonfirstseeingasteamboatcomingdowntheriverwasgreatlyfrightened。

  Mr。Lanierthenwroteoutinmetricalformtheplotof`ThePowerofPrayer’,substantiallyaswenowhaveit,andsentittohisbrotherSidney,whopolisheditupandpublisheditundertheirjointnames。

  Mr。CliffordLanierhadnotseenthepiecementionedinthenextparagraph,norhadhisbrother;butonbeingshownthepiece,theformerwasoftheopinionthathisnewspaperclippingmusthavebeenbasedontheworktowhichIturn,asithadalreadyappearedandtheincidentsweresomuchalike。

  Inthethirdchapterof`TheGildedAge’(Hartford,Conn。,1873)

  byMarkTwainandCharlesDudleyWarner,thereisapiece,`UncleDaniel’sApparitionandPrayer’,sosimilarto`ThePowerofPrayer’

  thatIquoteitalmostentire。UncleDan’l(aNegro),hiswife,hisyoungmistress,andhistwoyoungmastersweresittingonalogbytheMississippiRiveronemoonlightnighta-talking。

  \"SuddenlyUncleDan’lexclaimed:`Chil’en,dah’ssumfinacomin’!’

  \"Allcrowdedclosetogetherandeveryheartbeatfaster。

  UncleDan’lpointeddowntheriverwithhisbonyfinger。

  \"Adeepcoughingsoundtroubledthestillness,waytowardawoodedcapethatjuttedintothestreamamiledistant。Allinaninstantafierceeyeoffireshotoutfrombehindthecapeandsentalongbrilliantpathwayquiveringathwarttheduskywater。Thecoughinggrewlouderandlouder,theglaringeyegrewlargerandstilllarger,glaredwilderandstillwilder。Ahugeshapedevelopeditselfoutofthegloom,andfromitstallduplicatehornsdensevolumesofsmoke,starredandspangledwithsparks,pouredoutandwenttumblingawayintothefartherdarkness。Nearerandnearerthethingcame,tillitslongsidesbegantoglowwithspotsoflightwhichmirroredthemselvesintheriverandattendedthemonsterlikeatorch-lightprocession。

  \"`Whatisit?Oh!whatisit,UncleDan’l?’

  \"Withdeepsolemnitytheanswercame:

  \"`It’sdeAlmighty!Gitdownonyo’knees!’

  \"Itwasnotnecessarytosayittwice。Theywereallkneelinginamoment。

  Andthenwhilethemysteriouscoughingrosestrongerandstrongerandthethreateningglarereachedfartherandwider,thenegro’svoiceliftedupitssupplications。

  \"`OLord,we’sbenmightywicked,an’weknowsdatwe’zervetogotodebadplace,but,goodLord,deahLord,weain’treadyyit,weain’tready——letdesepo’chil’enhabonemo’chance,jes’onemo’chance。Takedeoleniggahifyou’sgottohabsomebody。——

  GoodLord,gooddeahLord,wedon’tknowwhahyou’sagwineto,wedon’tknowwhoyou’sgotyo’eyeon,butweknowsbydewayyou’sacomin’,weknowbydewayyou’satiltin’alonginyo’charyoto’fiahdatsomepo’sinner’sagwinetoketchit。But,goodLord,desechil’endon’t’blongheah,dey’sf’mObedstownwhahdeydon’tknownuffin,an’youknows,yo’ownsef,datdeyain’t’sponsible。An’deahLord,goodLord,itain’tlikeyo’mercy,itain’tlikeyo’pity,itain’tlikeyo’long-sufferin’lovin’-kindnessfortotakediskindo’’vantageo’sichlittlechil’enasdeseiswhendey’ssomanyornerygrownfolkschuckfullo’cussednessdatwantsroastin’downdah。OLord,spahdelittlechil’en,don’ttardelittlechil’enawayf’mdeyfrens,jes’let’emoffjes’disonce,andtakeitout’ndeoleniggah。

  HEAHIIS,LORD,HEAHIIS!Deoleniggah’sready,Lord,deole————’

  \"Theflamingandchurningsteamerwasrightabreasttheparty,andnottwentystepsaway。Theawfulthunderofamud-valvesuddenlyburstforth,drowningtheprayer,andassuddenlyUncleDan’lsnatchedachildundereacharmandscouredintothewoodswiththerestofthepackathisheels。Andthen,ashamedofhimself,hehaltedinthedeepdarknessandshouted(butratherfeebly):

  \"`HeahIis,Lord,heahIis!’

  \"Therewasamomentofthrobbingsuspense,andthen,tothesurpriseandcomfortoftheparty,itwasplainthattheaugustpresencehadgoneby,foritsdreadfulnoiseswerereceding。

  UncleDan’lheadedacautiousreconnoissanceinthedirectionofthelog。

  Sureenough`TheLord’wasjustturningapointashortdistanceuptheriver,andwhiletheylooked,thelightswinkedoutandthecoughingdiminishedbydegreesandpresentlyceasedaltogether。

  \"`H’wsh!Wellnowdey’ssomefolkssaysdeyain’tno’ficiencyinprah。

  Dischilewouldliketoknowwhahwe’dabennowifitwarn’tfo’datprah?

  Dat’sit。Dat’sit!’\"

  Therefollowsadiscussionastowhetherornottheprayercausedtheapparitiontogoby,ofwhichofcourseUncleDan’lhasnodoubt。

  TheapparitionreappearsandUncleDan’lbetakeshimselftoprayeragain,thistimealongwayoff。

  Iwrotetheauthorsof`TheGildedAge’andaskedthesourceof`UncleDaniel’sApparitionandPrayer’。Mr。Clemenskindlyrepliedthatheistheauthorofthepiece,andthatitispurefictionwithouteitherhistoryortraditionbackofit。

  Acomparisonofthetwostoriesshowssomedifferences。

  ThesceneintheonecaseistheAlabamaRiver,intheothertheMississippi。

  Moreover,thePERSONNELisdifferent。TheNegromaninTwain’sstoryisaboutforty,inLanier’sheisoldandhasbeenblindforfortyyears。

  AnotherdifferenceMr。SidneyLanierpointsouttohiswifeinhisletterofOctober1,1874:\"Cliff’sandmy`PowerofPrayer’

  willcomeoutintheScribner’s;probablyinthe`Etchings’

  attheendoftheMagazine。IwrotetheewhatDr。HollandsaidanentitsresemblancetosomethingofMarkTwain’sinplot。

  DaybeforeyesterdayIcalledandaskedDr。HollandwhatworkofMarkTwain’shereferredto。`Well,’saidhe,`Iknownothingaboutitmyself:

  Ireadthepoemtoafriend,andhesuggestedthattheplotwaslikesomethingofMarkTwain’s。ButyesterdayIreadhimyournote,andhethenrecollectedthatinTwain’sversionitisGodAlmightythatiscomingupthebend。InyoursitistheDevil:——whichcertainlymakesalittledifference!’andherehebrokeintoagreatlaugh。

  `Yes,’Irejoined,`adifferencetotocoelo,’whereathelaughedagain,andtoldmehehadalreadyorderedachecktobesentmeforthepoem。\"

  Mr。CliffordLanierwasbornatGriffin,Ga。,April24,1844,enteredbusinessinMontgomery,Ala。,atfourteen,subsequentlyattendedcollegeforayearandahalf,andinMay,1862,joinedhisbrotherintheConfederateArmy。Hissoldierlifehasbeendetailedinconnectionwiththatofthepoet。InOctober,1864,Mr。CliffordLanierwasassignedassignalofficertotheblockade-runner`Talisman’,which,aftertwosuccessfulrunstotheBermudaIslands,waswreckedinDecember,1864。Heescaped,however,andsurrenderedtotheFederalauthoritiesattheendofApril,1865。

  Hehasbeensuccessivelylawyer,hotelmanager,andsuperintendentofschoolsinMontgomery,Ala。ForseveralyearspasthehasbeenadirectoroftheBankofMontgomeryandothercorporations。Allthewhile,however,hehasbeendeeplyinterestedinliteratureandhaswrittensomegracefulsketchesandpoems,amongwhichmaybementionedthefollowing:

  `Thorn-fruit’(1867),`LoveandLoyaltyatWar’(1893),`BidingTryst’(1894),prose;`GreatestofTheseisLove’,`TheAmericanPhilomel’,`KeatsandFannyB————’,`TheSpiritofArt’,`AntinoustoHadrian’,`Time’,`Tireless’,`Tramp’(inStedmanandHutchinson’s`LibraryofAmericanLiterature’),`LoveandLife’,`EdgarAllanPoe’,etc。Asstatedinthe`Introduction’,theChautauquansof1898havenamedthemselves\"TheLaniers\"

  inhonorofMessrs。SidneyandCliffordLanier。ThemottooftheclassisthefirstlineofMr。CliffordLanier’s`Transformation’

  (`Sunday-schoolTimes’,Phila。,June30,1894):

  \"Thehumblestlifethatlivesmaybedivine。\"

  8。Thecomplete`Poems’has`the’before`world’,butMrs。Lanierthinksthepoetmusthaveused`de’hereaselsewhere。

  Rose-moralsI。——RedWouldthatmysongsmightbe[1]

  Whatrosesmakebydayandnight——

  DistillmentsofmyclodofmiseryIntodelight。

  Soul,could’stthoubarethybreastAsyonredrose,anddaretheday,Allclean,andlarge,andcalmwithvelvetrest?

  Sayyea——sayyea!

  Ah,dearmyRose,good-bye;

  Thewindisup;so;driftaway。

  Thatsongsfrommeasleavesfromtheemayfly,[11]

  Istrive,Ipray。

  II。——WhiteSoul,gettheetotheheartOfyondertuberose:hidetheethere——

  TherebreathethemeditationsofthineartSuffusedwithprayer。

  Ofspiritgraveyetlight,HowferventfragrancesuprisePure-bornfromthesemostrichandyetmostwhiteVirginities!

  Mulchedwithunsavorydeath,[21]

  Grow,Soul!untosuchwhiteestate,Thatvirginal-prayerfulartshallbethybreath,Thywork,thyfate。

  ____

  Baltimore,1875。

  Notes:Rose-moralsRose-moralsinEnglishliteratureprobablybeginwithSirJohnMandevilleinthefourteenthcentury。Atanyrate,intheeighteenthchapterofhis`VoyageandTravels’heprofessestotellustheoriginofredandwhiteroses。Afairmaidhadbeenunjustlyaccusedofwrong-doinganddoomedtodiebyfire。

  \"Andasthewoodebegantobrenne(burn)abouthir,shemadehirprayertoourLordeasshewasnotgyltieofthatthing,thathewouldhelpehirthatitmightbeknownetoallmen。Andwhan(when)shehadthussayde,sheenteredthefyreandanonethefyrewentout,andthosebraunchesthatwerebrenninge(burning)becameredRosesandthosebraunchesthatwerenotkindledbecamewhiteRosiers(rosebushes)fullofwhiteroses,andthosewerethefyrstrosesandrosyersthatanymansawe,andsowasthemaydensavedthroughthegraceofGod。\"

  ThomasCarewhasseveralrose-moralities,as`TheTrueBeauty’,beginning\"Hethatlovesarosycheek,\"andhisexquisite`RedandWhiteRoses’:

  \"ReadintheserosesthesadstoryOfmyhardfateandyourownglory:

  InthewhiteyoumaydiscoverThepalenessofafaintinglover;

  Inthered,theflamesstillfeedingOnmyheartwithfreshwoundsbleeding。

  ThewhitewilltellyouhowIlanguish,Andtheredexpressmyanguish:

  Thewhitemyinnocencedisplaying,Theredmymartyrdombetraying。

  ThefrownsthatonyourbrowresidedHavethoserosesthusdivided;

  Oh!letyoursmilesbutcleartheweather,Andthentheybothshallgrowtogether。\"*

  ——

  *SeeSaintsbury’s`ElizabethanLiterature’(Macmillan&Co。,NewYork,1887),p。363。

  ——

  RollickingRobertHerrick,too,drawshismorals,nowadvisingthevirginstomakemuchoftime,asinhis`Gatheryerose-budswhileyemay’,nowpreachingararelypatheticsermon,asin`ToBlossoms’:

  \"Fairpledgesofafruitfultree,Whydoyefallsofast?

  Yourdateisnotsopast,ButyoumaystayyethereawhileToblushandgentlysmile,Andgoatlast。

  \"What,wereyeborntobeAnhourorhalf’sdelight,Andsotobidgood-night?

  ’TwaspityNaturebroughtyeforthMerelytoshowyourworth,Andloseyouquite。

  \"Butyouarelovelyleaves,whereweMayreadhowsoonthingshaveTheirend,thoughne’ersobrave:

  AndaftertheyhaveshowntheirprideLikeyou,awhile,theyglideIntothegrave。\"*

  ——

  *`Palgrave’,p。89。

  ——

  Muchlikethislastpieceinimport,andscarcelyinferiortoitinexecution,is`Mylifeislikethesummerrose’ofRichardHenryWilde,whichisfamiliartoeveryone。

  PaulHamiltonHayne’s`TheRedandtheWhiteRose’(`Poems’,pp。231-232)

  isaninterestingdialogue,whichtheauthorconcludesbymakingtheformeran\"earthlyqueen\"andthelattera\"heaven-boundvotaress\"。

  Mrs。Browning’s`ALayoftheEarlyRose’showsthatwearenottostrive\"forthedoleofpraise。\"

  To————,withaRoseIaskedmyhearttosay[1]

  Somewordwhoseworthmylove’sdevoirmightpayUponmyLady’snatalday。

  Thensaidmyhearttome:

  `LearnfromtherhymethatnowshallcometotheeWhatfitsthyLovemostlovingly。’

  Thisgiftthatlearningshows;

  For,asarhymeuntoitsrhyme-twingoes,IsendaroseuntoaRose。

  ____

  Philadelphia,1876。

  Notes:To————,withaRoseThispoemwassenttoMrs。GibsonPeacock,ofPhiladelphia,whowasoneofMr。Lanier’skindestandmostappreciativefriends。

  Thepoet’sletterstoMr。andMrs。Peacockhaverecentlybeenpublishedin`TheAtlantic’(see`Thayer’in`Bibliography’)。

  Ofthenumerousrose-complimentsinEnglishIcanherespecifybutafew。

  OneoftheprettiestisthatbyHenryConstable(`Saintsbury’,p。113):

  \"MyLady’spresencemakestheRosesred,Becausetoseeherlipstheyblushforshame。\"

  Carew’scomplimentishardlyequaltohismorals(`Gosse’,p。101):

  \"AskmenomorewhereJovebestows,WhenJuneispast,thefadingrose;

  Forinyourbeauty’sorientdeepTheseflowers,asintheircauses,sleep。\"

  Fewbetterthingshavebeenwrittenthanthis,thesecondstanzaofJonson’s`Drinktomeonlywiththineeyes’(`Gosse’,p。80):

  \"Isenttheelatearosywreath,NotsomuchhonouringtheeAsgivingitahopethatthereItcouldnotwitheredbe。

  Butthouthereondid’stonlybreathe,Andsent’stitbacktome;

  Sincewhenitgrowsandsmells,Iswear,Notofitself,butthee。\"*

  Evenmorefelicitous,perhaps,isWaller’s`Go,lovelyrose!’whichisatonceacomplimentandamoral(`Gosse’,p。134):

  \"Go,lovelyroseTellherthatwasteshertimeandme,Thatnowsheknows,WhenIresemblehertothee,Howsweetandfairsheseemstobe。

  \"Tellherthat’syoung,Andshunstohavehergracesspied,ThathadstthousprungIndeserts,wherenomenabide,Thoumusthaveuncommendeddied。

  \"SmallistheworthOfbeautyfromthelightretired;

  Bidhercomeforth,Sufferherselftobedesired,Andnotblushsotobeadmired。

  \"Thendie!thatsheThecommonfateofallthingsrareMayreadinthee;

  HowsmallapartoftimetheyshareThataresowond’roussweetandfair。\"

  Browning’s`WomenandRoses’shouldalsobementioned,andMrs。Browning’stranslationofSappho’slovely`SongoftheRose’。

  ——

  *ThefactthatJonsonheretranslatesaproselove-letterofPhilostratus,theGreeksophist,maydetractfromtheoriginalitybutnotthebeautyofhispoem。

  ——

  UncleJim’sBaptistRevivalHymnBySidneyandCliffordLanierSOLO。——Sin’srooster’scrowed,OleMahster’sriz,[1]

  Desleepin’-timeispas’;

  WakeupdemlazyBaptissis,CHORUS。——Dey’smightilyindegrass,grass,Dey’smightilyindegrass。

  OleMahster’sbloweddemornin’horn,He’sblowedapowerfulblas’;

  OBaptis’come,comehoedecorn,You’smightilyindegrass,grass,You’smightilyindegrass。

  DeMeth’disteam’sdonehitched;Ofool,[11]

  Deday’sa-breakin’fas’;

  GearupdatleanoleBaptis’mule,Dey’smightilyindegrass,grass,Dey’smightilyindegrass。

  Deworkmen’sfewan’mons’rousslow,Decotton’ssheddin’fas’;

  Whoop,look,jes’lookatdeBaptis’row,Hit’smightilyindegrass,grass,Hit’smightilyindegrass。

  Dejay-birdsquealtodemockin’-bird:\"Stop![21]

  Don’gimmenoneo’yo’sass;

  BettersingonesongfordeBaptis’crop,Dey’smightilyindegrass,grass,Dey’smightilyindegrass。\"

  Anddeolecrowcroak:\"Don’work,no,no;\"

  Butdefiel’-larksay,\"Yaas,yaas,An’Ispec’youmightyglad,youdebblishcrow,DatdeBaptissis’sindegrass,grass,DatdeBaptissis’sindegrass!\"

  Lord,thunderusuptodeplowin’-match,[31]

  Lord,peertendehoein’fas’,Yea,Lord,habmussyondeBaptis’patch,Dey’smightilyindegrass,grass,Dey’smightilyindegrass。

  ____

  1876。

  Notes:UncleJim’sBaptistRevivalHymnIthinkthatthefollowingnote,prefixedbytheauthorstotheirpoem,sufficientlyexplainswhatistomeoneoftheirbesthumorouspieces:

  \"NotlongagoacertainGeorgiacotton-planter,driventodesperationbyawakingeachmorningtofindthatthegrasshadquiteoutgrownthecottonovernight,andwaslikelytochokeit,indefianceofhislazyfreedmen’shoesandploughs,setthewholeStateinalaughbyexclaimingtoagroupoffellow-sufferers:`It’sallstuffaboutCincinnatusleavingtheploughtogointopolitics\"forpatriotism\";

  hewasjusta-runnin’fromgrass!’

  \"Thisstateofthings——whenthedelicateyoungrootletsofthecottonarestrugglingagainstthehardiermultitudesofthegrass-suckers——

  isuniversallydescribedinplantationparlancebythephrase`inthegrass’;

  andUncleJimappearstohavefoundinitsomuchsimilaritytotheconditionofhisown(`Baptis’’)church,overrun,asitwas,bythecaresofthisworld,thathehasembodieditintherefrainofarevivalhymnsuchasthecoloredimprovisatoroftheSouthnotinfrequentlyconstructsfromhisdailysurroundings。

  Hehasdrawnalltheideasofhisstanzasfromtheearlymorningphenomenaofthosecriticalweekswhentheloudplantation-hornisblownbeforedaylight,inordertorouseallhandsforalongday’sfightagainstthecommonenemyofcotton-plantingmankind。

  \"InadditiontotheseexegeticalcommentariestheNorthernreaderprobablyneedstobeinformedthatthephrase`peertenup’meanssubstantially`tospurup’,andisanactiveformoftheadjective`peert’

  (probablyacorruptionof`pert’),whichissocommonintheSouth,andwhichhasmuchthesignificationof`smart’inNewEngland,ase。g。,a`peert’horse,inantithesistoa`sorry’——i。e。,poor,mean,lazyone。\"

  TheMocking-birdSuperbandsole,uponaplumedspray[1]

  Thato’erthegeneralleafageboldlygrew,Hesumm’dthewoodsinsong;ortypicdrewThewatchofhungryhawks,thelonedismayOflanguiddoveswhenlongtheirloversstray,Andallbirds’passion-playsthatsprinkledewAtmorninbrakeorboskyavenue。

  Whate’erbirdsdidordreamed,thisbirdcouldsay。

  Thendownheshot,bouncedairilyalongThesward,twitchedinagrasshopper,madesongMidflight,perched,prinked,andtohisartagain。[11]

  SweetScience,thislargeriddlereadmeplain:

  HowmaythedeathofthatdullinsectbeThelifeofyontrimShakspereonthetree?

  ____

  1877。

  Notes:TheMocking-birdBesidesthissonnetMr。Lanierwrotealonger`ToOurMocking-bird’,consistingofthreesonnets,and`Bob’,acharmingaccount,inprose,ofthelifeanddeathofthebirdapostrophized。

  Inhis`BirdsandPoets’(Boston,1877),Mr。JohnBurroughssaysthatheknowsofonlytwonoteworthypoeticaltributestothemocking-bird,thosebyWhitmanandbyWilde,bothofwhichhequotes。

  Butsincetheappearanceofhisbookmanypoemshavebeenwrittentothemocking-bird,severalofwhichareofenduringworth。

  Indeed,severalnoteworthypoemshadbeenpublishedbeforetheappearanceofMr。Burroughs’sessay,aswillappearfromthelistbelow。InasearchoftwodaysIfoundthirty-twodifferentauthorspayingtributetoourmarveloussinger:

  JuliaBacon(seeJ。W。Davidson’s`LivingWritersoftheSouth’。

  NewYork:Carleton,1869),St。L。L。Carter(ib。),EdnaP。Clarke(`Century’,24。391,July,1893),FortunatusCrosby(`Davidson’,l。c。),J。R。Drake(Duyckinck’s`CyclopaediaofAmericanLiterature’。

  NewYork,1855),R。T。W。Duke,Jr。(`SouthernBivouac’,2。631,March,1887),W。T。Dumas(`TheGoldenDayandMiscellaneousPoems’,Philadelphia,1893),F。(`SouthernLiteraryMessenger’,Richmond,Va。,5。523,August,1839),H。L。Flash(`Davidson’,l。c。),Va。Gentleman(`Harper’sMagazine’,15。566,September,1857),CarolineGilman(May’s`AmericanFemalePoets’,Philadelphia,1865),HannahF。Gould(`Davidson’,l。c。),PaulGranald(`So。Lit。Mes。’,8,508,August,1842),P。H。Hayne(`Poems’,Boston,1882:two),W。H。Hayne(`Century’,24。676,September,1893),C。W。Hubner(`PoemsandEssays’,NewYork,1881),C。Lanier(`Sunday-schoolTimes’,Phila。,July8,1893),S。Lanier(two,asabovecited),Gen。EdwinG。Lee(`SouthernMetropolis’,Baltimore,1869),A。B。Meek(inhis`SongsandPoemsoftheSouth’,NewYork,1857),W。Mitchell(`Scribner’sMagazine’,11。171,December,1875),Nugator(`So。Lit。Mes。’,4。356,June,1838),C。J。O’Malley(`So。Bivouac’,2。698,April,1887),AlbertPike(Stedman&Hutchinson’s`Amer。Lit。’,NewYork,1891,vol。6),D。Robinson(`Century’,24。480,July,1893),ClintonScollard(`PicturesinSong’,NewYork,1884),H。J。Stockard(`TheCentury’,xlviii。898,Oct。,1894),T(`So。Lit。Mes。’,11。117,February,1845),MauriceThompson(`Poems’,Boston,1892:several;also`Lippincott’sMagazine’,32。624,December,1883),L。V。(`So。Lit。Mes。’,10。414,July,1844),WaltWhitman(`Burroughs’,l。c。,alsoinWhitman’s`Poems’),R。H。Wilde(`Burroughs’,l。c。,andStedman&Hutchinson’s`Am。Lit。’,vol。5)。

  Roughlyspeaking,thepoemsmaybedividedintotwoclasses——

  firstthosethat,asintheIndianlegendcitedbelow,makeoutthemocking-birdonlyorchieflyathiefandthingofevil,andsecondthosethatfindhim,thoughaborrower,originalandgreat。

  Theformerview,fortunatelyupheldbyfew,isstrikinglysetforthinGranald’s`TheMock-birdandtheSparrow’。Afterdescribingminutelythevarioussongsofthemocking-birdandemphasizingthattheyallcomefromotherbirds,theauthorgivesthedialoguebetweenthemock-birdandthesparrow。Theformertauntedthelatterandinsistedonhissinging;and\"Thesparrowcock’daknowingeye,Andmadehimthismosttartreply——

  `Youstealfromallandcallitwit,ButIprefermysimple\"twit\"。’\"

  Butthelatterviewisespousedbymostofthewritersmentioned,notablyandnoblybyDrake,theHaynes,theLaniers,Lee,Meek,andThompson,thepoet-laureateofthemocking-bird,whosepoemsshouldbereadbyeveryloverofnatureandespeciallyofthemocking-bird。

  AsThompson’stributesarealltoolongforquotation,IgivehereMeek’s,inthehopethatImayrescueitfromthelongoblivionofanout-of-print。

  Myattentionwascalledtoitbymyfriend,Dr。C。H。Ross,towhomeveryreaderwillbeindebtedalongwithmyself。Itrunsasfollows:

  \"Fromthevale,whatmusicringing,Fillsthebosomofthenight;

  Onthesense,entranced,flingingSpellsofwitcheryanddelight!

  O’ermagnolia,limeandcedar,Fromyonlocust-top,itswells,Likethechantofserenader,Ortherhymesofsilverbells!

  Listen!dearest,listentoit!

  Sweetersoundswereneverheard!

  ’Tisthesongofthatwildpoet——

  Mimeandminstrel——Mocking-bird。

  \"Seehim,swinginginhisglory,Onyontopmostbendinglimb!

  Carollinghisamorousstory,Likesomewildcrusader’shymn!

  NowitfaintsintonesdeliciousAsthefirstlowvowoflove!

  Nowitburstsinswellscapricious,Allthemoonlitvaleabove!

  Listen!dearest,etc。

  \"Whyis’tthus,thissylvanPetrarchPoursallnighthisserenade?

  ’TisforsomeproudwoodlandLaura,Hissadsonnetsallaremade!

  Buthechangesnowhismeasure——

  Gladnessbubblingfromhismouth——

  Jestandgibe,andmimicpleasure——

  WingedAnacreonoftheSouth!

  Listen!dearest,etc。

  \"Birdofmusic,witandgladness,Troubadourofsunnyclimes,Disenchanterofallsadness,——

  Wouldthineartwereinmyrhymes。

  O’ertheheartthat’sbeatingbyme,Iwouldweaveaspelldivine;

  Isthereaughtshecoulddenyme,Drinkinginsuchstrainsasthine?

  Listen!dearest,etc。\"

  Asiswellknown,themocking-birdisoftencalledtheAmericannightingale。

  Astotheirrelativemeritsassingers,hereisthejudgmentofonethathasheardbothbirds,ProfessorJamesA。Harrison(`TheCritic’,NewYork,2。284,December13,1884):\"Well,itismyhonestopinionthatphilomelwillnotcomparewiththesingeroftheSouthinsweetness,versatility,passion,orlyricalbeauty。Themocking-bird——bettertheecho-bird,withavoicecompoundedofallsweetsounds,astheblossomoftheChineseoliveiscompoundedofallsweetscents——

  isapurelyrist;itsthroatisalyre——Aeolian,capricious,many-stringed;

  asitsnamesuggests,itisapolyglotmime,abirdlinguist,afeatheredMezzofantisingingallthebirdlanguages;yetoverandaboveallthis,withasomethingofitsownthatcannotbedescribed。\"

  Themocking-birdspeaksforhimselfinThompson’s`ToanEnglishNightingale’:

  \"Whatdoyouthinkofme?

  DoIsingbyrote?

  Orbynote?

  HaveIaparrot’secho-throat?

  Ohno!IcaughtmystrainsFromNature’sfreshestveins……

  \"HeAmatchforme!

  Nomorethanawrenorachickadee!

  Mineisthevoiceoftheyoungandstrong,Minethesoulofthebraveandfree!\"

  Thisself-appreciationisconfirmedbythegreatestauthorityonbirds,Audubon:\"Thereisprobablynobirdintheworldthatpossessesallthemusicalqualificationsofthiskingofsong,whohasderivedallfromNature’sself。Yes,reader,all!\"

  Itwillbeinterestingandinstructivetocomparethetributestothemocking-birdwithKeats’s`OdetoaNightingale’,Shelley’s`ToaSkylark’,andWordsworth’s`TotheSkylark’。

  AsidefromAudubon’s`BirdsofAmerica’andRidgway’s`ManualofNorthAmericanBirds’,thestudentmayconsultwithprofitBurroughs’s`BirdsandPoets’,Thompson’s`IntheHauntsoftheMocking-bird’

  (`TheAtlantic’,54。620,November,1884),variousarticlesbyOliveThorneMillerin`TheAtlantic’(vol。54on),andWinterfield’s`TheMocking-bird,anIndianLegend’(`TheAmericanWhigReview’,NewYork,1。497,May,1845)。

  14。Wildecomparesthemocking-birdtoYorickandtoJacques;

  Meek,toPetrarch;Lanier,toKeats,in`ToOurMocking-bird’,asdoesWm。H。Hayne:

  \"EachgoldennoteofmusicgreetsThelisteningleavesdivinelystirred,AsifthevanishedsoulofKeatsHadfounditsnewbirthinabird。\"

  SongoftheChattahoocheeOutofthehillsofHabersham,[1]

  DownthevalleysofHall,Ihurryamaintoreachtheplain,Runtherapidandleapthefall,Splitattherockandtogetheragain,Acceptmybed,ornarroworwide,AndfleefromfollyoneverysideWithalover’spaintoattaintheplainFarfromthehillsofHabersham,FarfromthevalleysofHall。

  AlldownthehillsofHabersham,[11]

  AllthroughthevalleysofHall,Therushescried`Abide,abide,’

  Thewillfulwaterweedsheldmethrall,Thelavinglaurelturnedmytide,Thefernsandthefondlinggrasssaid`Stay,’

  Thedewberrydippedfortoworkdelay,Andthelittlereedssighed`Abide,abide,HereinthehillsofHabersham,HereinthevalleysofHall。’

  Higho’erthehillsofHabersham,[21]

  VeilingthevalleysofHall,ThehickorytoldmemanifoldFairtalesofshade,thepoplartallWroughtmehershadowyselftohold,Thechestnut,theoak,thewalnut,thepine,Overleaning,withflickeringmeaningandsign,Said,`Passnot,socold,thesemanifoldDeepshadesofthehillsofHabersham,ThesegladesinthevalleysofHall。’

  AndoftinthehillsofHabersham,[31]

  AndoftinthevalleysofHall,Thewhitequartzshone,andthesmoothbrook-stoneDidbarmeofpassagewithfriendlybrawl,Andmanyaluminousjewellone——Crystalsclearora-cloudwithmist,Ruby,garnet,andamethyst——

  MadelureswiththelightsofstreamingstoneInthecleftsofthehillsofHabersham,InthebedsofthevalleysofHall。

  Butoh,notthehillsofHabersham,[41]

  Andoh,notthevalleysofHallAvail:Iamfainfortowatertheplain。

  DownwardthevoicesofDutycall——

  Downward,totoilandbemixedwiththemain,Thedryfieldsburn,andthemillsaretoturn,Andamyriadflowersmortallyyearn,AndthelordlymainfrombeyondtheplainCallso’erthehillsofHabersham,CallsthroughthevalleysofHall。

  ____

  1877。

  Notes:SongoftheChattahoocheeTheChattahoocheeRiverrisesinHabershamCounty,innortheastGeorgia,and,intersectingHallCounty,flowssouthwestwardtoWestPoint,thensouthwarduntilituniteswiththeFlintRiveratthesouthwesternextremityofGeorgia。TheChattahoocheeisaboutfivehundredmileslong,andsmallsteamboatscanascendittoColumbus,Ga。Hon。HenryR。Jackson,ofSavannah,Ga。,lateMinistertoMexico,hasaninterestingpoem`TotheChattahoocheeRiver’,inhis`TallulahandOtherPoems’(Savannah,Ga。,1850);

  andMr。M。V。Moore,inhispoem,`SouthernRivers’(`Harper’,66。464,February,1883),hasaparagraphontheriversofGeorgia,inwhichhespeaksof\"thesandyChattahoochee\"。

  Inthe`Introduction’(pp。xxxi[PartIII],xliv,xlvii[PartIV])

  Ihavespokenofthis`Song’asLanier’smostfinishednaturepoem,asthemostmusicalofhisproductions。\"Themusicofasongeasilyeludesallanalysisandmaybedissipatedbyacritic’sbreath,butletustrytocatchthemeansbywhichtheeffectisinpartproduced。

  Infivestanzas,oftenlineseach,alliterationoccursinallsavetwelvelines。Inelevenofthesetwelvelinesinternalrhymeoccurs,sometimesjoiningthepartsofaline,sometimesunitingsuccessivelines。

  Syzygyisusedforthesamepurpose。Ofthelettersoccurringinthepoemaboutone-fifthareliquidsandaboutone-twelftharesibilants。

  Theeffectofthewholeismusicalbeyonddescription。

  Itsingsitselfandyetnowheresacrificesthethought\"(Kent)。

  Anotherwaytotestthebeautyof`TheSongoftheChattahoochee’

  istocompareitwithotherkindredpoems。Therearemanystream-songsinEnglish,severalofwhichareverypretty,butthereis,Ithink,butonerivaltoour`Song’,andthatisTennyson’s`TheBrook’。

  EvensocarefulacriticasMr。Wardsaysthat`TheSongoftheChattahoochee’

  \"strikesahigherkey,andisscarcelylessmusical。\"Itwillbeinstructive,too,tocompareLanier’spoemwithSouthey’s`TheCataractofLodore’

  (see`Gates’,p。25),whichexhibitsconsiderabletalent,ifnotinspiration;

  withP。H。Hayne’s`TheMeadowBrook’,whichissimpleandsweet;

  andwithWordsworth’s`Brook!whosesocietythePoetseeks’,whichisgraveandelevated。ProfessorKentsuggestsasinterestinganaloguesPoe’s`Ulalume’andBuchananRead’s`BayofNaples’;and,ifthestudentcarestoextendhislist,heshouldreadthestream-songsbyBryant,MaryAingeDeVere(`Century’,21。283,December,1891),Longfellow,WeirMitchell(`Atlantic’,65。629,May,1890),ClintonScollard(`Lippincott’,50。226,August,1892),etc。,etc。

  TheRevengeofHamishItwasthreeslimdoesandaten-tinedbuckinthebrackenlay;[1]

  Andallofasuddenthesinistersmellofaman,Awaftonawind-shift,waveredandranDownthehill-sideandsiftedalongthroughthebrackenandpassedthatway。

  ThenNangota-trembleatnostril;shewasthedaintiestdoe;

  IntheprintofhervelvetflankonthevelvetfernShereared,androundedherearsinturn。

  Thenthebuckleaptup,andhisheadasaking’stoacrowndidgoFullhighinthebreeze,andhestoodasifDeathhadtheformofadeer;

  Andthetwoslimdoeslonglazilystretchingarose,Fortheirday-dreamslowliercametoaclose,[11]

  Tilltheywokeandwerestill,breath-boundwithwaitingandwonderandfear。

  ThenAlanthehuntsmansprangoverthehillock,thehoundsshotby,Thedoesandtheten-tinedbuckmadeamarvelousbound,Thehoundssweptafterwithneverasound,ButAlanloudwindedhishorninsignthatthequarrywasnigh。

  ForatdawnofthatdayproudMacleanofLochbuytothehunthadwaxedwild,AndhecursedatoldAlantillAlanfaredoffwiththehoundsFortodrivehimthedeertothelowerglen-grounds:

  \"Iwillkillareddeer,\"quothMaclean,\"inthesightofthewifeandthechild。\"

  Sogaylyhepacedwiththewifeandthechildtohischosenstand;[21]

  ButhehurriedtallHamishthehenchmanahead:\"Goturn,\"——

  CriedMaclean——\"ifthedeerseektocrosstotheburn,Dothouturnthemtome:norfail,lestthybackberedasthyhand。\"

  Nowhard-fortunedHamish,halfblownofhisbreathwiththeheightofthehill,Waswhiteinthefacewhentheten-tinedbuckandthedoesDrewleapingtoburn-ward;huskilyroseHisshouts,andhisnetherliptwitched,andhislegswereo’er-weakforhiswill。

  SothedeerdartedlightlybyHamishandboundedawaytotheburn。

  ButMacleanneverbatinghiswatchtarriedwaitingbelow。

  StillHamishhungheavywithfearfortogo[31]

  Allthespaceofanhour;thenhewent,andhisfacewasgreenishandstern,Andhiseyesatbackinthesocket,andshrunkentheeyeballsshone,Aswithdrawnfromavisionofdeedsitwereshametosee。

  \"Now,now,grimhenchman,whatis’twiththee?\"

  BrakeMaclean,andhiswrathroseredasabeaconthewindhathupblown。

  \"Threedoesandaten-tinedbuckmadeout,\"spokeHamish,fullmild,\"AndIranfortoturn,butmybreathitwasblown,andtheypassed;

  Iwasweak,foryecalledereIbrokememyfast。\"

  CriedMaclean:\"Nowaten-tinedbuckinthesightofthewifeandthechildIhadkilledifthegluttonouskernhadnotwroughtmeasnail’sownwrong!\"[41]

  Thenhesounded,anddowncamekinsmenandclansmenall:

  \"Tenblows,fortentine,onhisbackletfall,Andreckonnostrokeifthebloodfollownotatthebiteofthong!\"

  SoHamishmadebare,andtookhimhisstrokes;atthelasthesmiled。

  \"NowI’lltotheburn,\"quothMaclean,\"foritstillmaybe,Ifaslimmer-paunchedhenchmanwillhurrywithme,Ishallkillmetheten-tinedbuckforagifttothewifeandthechild!\"

  Thentheclansmendeparted,bythispathandthat;andoverthehillSpedMacleanwithanoutwardwrathforaninwardshame;

  Andthatplaceofthelashingfullquietbecame;[51]

  Andthewifeandthechildstoodsad;andbloody-backedHamishsatstill。

  Butlook!redHamishhasrisen;quickaboutandaboutturnshe。

  \"Thereisnonebetwixtmeandthecrag-top!\"hescreamsunderbreath。

  Then,lividasLazaruslatelyfromdeath,Hesnatchesthechildfromthemother,andclambersthecragtowardthesea。

  Nowthemotherdropsbreath;sheisdumb,andherheartgoesdeadforaspace,Tillthemotherhood,mistressofdeath,shrieks,shrieksthroughtheglen,Andthatplaceofthelashingislivewithmen,AndMaclean,andthegilliethattoldhim,dashupinadesperaterace。

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