登陆注册
38563900000031

第31章 Conclusion(17)

William Hayes Ward wrote of this poem: "How naturally his large faith in God finds expression in his `Marshes of Glynn'."Edwin Mims, in his biography of Sidney Lanier, concludes by quoting this poem.

He writes:

"His best poems move to the cadence of a tune....Sometimes, as in the `Marshes of Glynn' and in the best parts of `Sunrise', there is a cosmic rhythm that is like unto the rhythmic beating of the heart of God, of which Poe and Lanier have written eloquently."And later continues:

"Indeed, if one had to rely upon one poem to keep alive the fame of Lanier, he could single out `The Marshes of Glynn' with assurance that there is something so individual and original about it, and that, at the same time, there is such a roll and range of verse in it, that it will surely live not only in American poetry but in English.

Here the imagination has taken the place of fancy, the effort to do great things ends in victory, and the melody of the poem corresponds to the exalted thought.It has all the strong points of `Sunrise', with but few of its limitations.There is something of Whitman's virile imagination and Emerson's high spirituality combined with the haunting melody of Poe's best work.Written in 1878, when Lanier was in the full exercise of all his powers, it is the best expression of his genius and one of the few great American poems.

"The background of the poem -- as of `Sunrise' -- is the forest, the coast and the marshes near Brunswick, Georgia.Early in life Lanier had been thrilled by this wonderful natural scenery, and later visits had the more powerfully impressed his imagination.

He is the poet of the marshes as surely as Bryant is of the forests, or Wordsworth of the mountains.

"The poet represents himself as having spent the day in the forest and coming at sunset into full view of the length and the breadth and the sweep of the marshes.The glooms of the live-oaks and the emerald twilights of the `dim sweet woods, of the dear dark woods,'

have been as a refuge from the riotous noon-day sun.More than that, in the wildwood privacies and closets of lone desire he has known the passionate pleasure of prayer and the joy of elevated thought.

His spirit is grown to a lordly great compass within, -- he is ready for what Wordsworth calls a `god-like hour'."Mr.Callaway also treats the poem in Part III of the `Introduction'.

RemonstranceOpinion, let me alone: I am not thine.[1]

Prim Creed, with categoric point, forbear To feature me my Lord by rule and line.

Thou canst not measure Mistress Nature's hair, Not one sweet inch: nay, if thy sight is sharp, Would'st count the strings upon an angel's harp?

Forbear, forbear.

Oh let me love my Lord more fathom deep Than there is line to sound with: let me love My fellow not as men that mandates keep:

Yea, all that's lovable, below, above, [11]

That let me love by heart, by heart, because (Free from the penal pressure of the laws)I find it fair.

The tears I weep by day and bitter night, Opinion! for thy sole salt vintage fall.

-- As morn by morn I rise with fresh delight, Time through my casement cheerily doth call, "Nature is new, 'tis birthday every day, Come feast with me, let no man say me nay, Whate'er befall." [21]

So fare I forth to feast: I sit beside Some brother bright: but, ere good-morrow's passed, Burly Opinion wedging in hath cried, "Thou shalt not sit by us, to break thy fast, Save to our Rubric thou subscribe and swear --`Religion hath blue eyes and yellow hair':

She's Saxon, all."

Then, hard a-hungered for my brother's grace Till well-nigh fain to swear his folly's true, In sad dissent I turn my longing face [31]

To him that sits on the left: "Brother, -- with you?"-- "Nay, not with me, save thou subscribe and swear `Religion hath black eyes and raven hair':

Nought else is true."

Debarred of banquets that my heart could make With every man on every day of life, I homeward turn, my fires of pain to slake In deep endearments of a worshiped wife.

"I love thee well, dear Love," quoth she, "and yet Would that thy creed with mine completely met, [41]

As one, not two."

Assassin! Thief! Opinion, 'tis thy work.

By Church, by throne, by hearth, by every good That's in the Town of Time, I see thee lurk, And e'er some shadow stays where thou hast stood.

Thou hand'st sweet Socrates his hemlock sour;Thou sav'st Barabbas in that hideous hour, And stabb'st the goodDeliverer Christ; thou rack'st the souls of men;Thou tossest girls to lions and boys to flames; [51]

Thou hew'st Crusader down by Saracen;

Thou buildest closets full of secret shames;Indifferent cruel, thou dost blow the blaze Round Ridley or Servetus; all thy days Smell scorched; I would-- Thou base-born Accident of time and place --Bigot Pretender unto Judgment's throne --Bastard, that claimest with a cunning face Those rights the true, true Son of Man doth own By Love's authority -- thou Rebel cold [61]

At head of civil wars and quarrels old --Thou Knife on a throne I would thou left'st me free, to live with love, And faith, that through the love of love doth find My Lord's dear presence in the stars above, The clods below, the flesh without, the mind Within, the bread, the tear, the smile.

Opinion, damned Intriguer, gray with guile, Let me alone.

____

Baltimore, 1878-9.

Notes: Remonstrance This is the first and the greatest of the `Street-cries':

see the introductory note to `Life and Song'.

For an interpretation of the poem see `Introduction', pp.xxix [Part III], xlv, xlvii [Part IV].

26, 33.Amusing illustrations of such intolerance may be found in `Jack-knife and Brambles' (Nashville, 1893), by Bishop Atticus G.Haygood, of the Methodist Church, South.One brother, we are told (p.278), objected to hearing Bishop Haygood in 1859 because of his wearing a beard;while another (p.281), along in the thirties, voted against licensing Bishop George F.Pierce because his hair was "combed back from his forehead"!

46.For an account of Socrates, the Greek philosopher, poisoned in 399 B.C., see Xenophon's `Memorabilia' and Plato's dialogues.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 我的男友太高冷

    我的男友太高冷

    当高冷总裁遇上苦涩又甜蜜的爱情......
  • 爱,便是一世

    爱,便是一世

    这是一篇关于从校园发展起来的爱情故事,从他见到她的第一眼就喜欢上了她,也许是因为她的样貌,也许只是因为是她!初遇爱情的美好,
  • 无殇戏

    无殇戏

    “各位,都有空吗?”硚觞坐在舒适的软椅上,悠闲地发出一条信息。“有。”页面上瞬间冒出几条回复。“我在冥王星也呆了几年了吧,新游戏的邀请函已经发出去了,你们介意来客串一下吗?”“帮忙倒是没问题,不过要是还像以前那么无聊,就别找我。”“护卫队员们也要客串吗?”“你亲自来?”……面对这些疑问,硚觞并没有打算回答。只是发了个地址就关闭了聊天页面。她怀里的小黑猫翻了个白眼儿以对她这种不负责任的行为表示“赞赏”。“放心吧,他们都会来的,以我的名誉保证。”“呵,你是指身为囚犯的名誉吗?”黑猫幽幽地嘲讽一句,舔舔白爪子,看来他们又有的忙了。注:本书女主不是沐恩,不是她!!
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 寻迹星辰录

    寻迹星辰录

    寻迹,寻找有缘者。每一个微小说都是一颗星辰。我心上的那些残缺,用千年寻你来填满!!!
  • 绝零七境

    绝零七境

    简柠再也不想回到那个家庭,再也不想见到简檬,可是上天作弄人,当她再次有意识的时候,竟然又回到了这个家。原以为二十一年的苦日子过去了,莫名其妙却又让她回到十年前,那个时候,她刚上初三。这还不算,上学路上,她连人带着自行车又莫名其妙进入了一个世外桃源般的地方,在这,她竟然又变回了21的模样,还在这里见到了苏宥柒!又懵懵懂懂的跟着苏宥柒进了一个现实中本不存在的地方,他们称这里为绝零境。令简柠感到不可思议的是,这里竟然能与她21岁的世界以及六年级的世界皆相通。
  • 愚木

    愚木

    周天之内有五仙,乃:天、地、神、人、鬼;这一为天;二为地;三为神;四为人;五为鬼。人分四派,乃:皇、侠、道、佛。朝廷当权,侠肝义胆,修道成仙,佛登极乐。山高险峻,多有妖魔。这皇、侠、道、佛、妖,同在世间,恩怨未了。
  • 东皇阁

    东皇阁

    看一个乡村贫穷少年如何成为宇宙一代霸主,历经磨烂,天道酬勤,一步一步终成世人皆知尊敬的东皇,我以我心荐苍天,凌世霸主又何难,世人皆惧长生梦,终成一代东皇阁。
  • 行难行

    行难行

    阴阳五行,相生相克。你我本无缘,千里姻缘一线牵~~
  • 妙手狂医:征服冰山女神

    妙手狂医:征服冰山女神

    美女:医生,我到底得了什么病?医生:感知功能缺失!美女:能不能不要说的这么专业?我听不懂!那个……我们还是专业一点吧!