第3章

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。