for mirth, is not dignified enough for religion. I have furnished it
with words, therefore, which seem to me expressive of the sentiment of
the music. But that sentiment must by no means be attributed to me. I
had heard that the Last Waltz was composed by Von Weber on his
death-bed; and therefore imagined the burthen of its strain, such as I
have suggested. But a truly Christian composer would not employ his last
hours on any thing less than a sacred Anthem, or a Miserere: and the
story of Mozart’s Requiem is much more interesting and becoming.
* * * * *
_Hark through the skies, &c._
This poem and others that succeed it, were written in such early years
that I have distinguished them with apologetic dates. They made no part
of the book when it was put to press, but as more matter was found
necessary, I was obliged hastily to incorporate them with the Lays, as
being the only early poems of the kind in my possession.
* * * * *
_When the wounded bucanier._
This poem was addressed to a lady, a relative, on reading the anecdote
to which it alludes, in the work of Audubon, on American birds. That
author tells us that the plaintive note of the Zenaida dove, has
actually been known to have such an effect upon a pirate, that he
deserted his comrades, and in true penitence, abandoned forever his evil
ways.
* * * * *
_Still as our day our strength shall be._
I have spoken in this little Hymn, of our blessed Saviour, as suffering
the pains of his cross, during the whole of his life. My meaning must be
explained of course by the fact of his Divinity, to which the future was
ever present. And in this I believe I am borne out by sound theologians.
Dr. Dens, who, though a Romish divine, is generally Catholic on such
points, and usually follows S. Thomas Aquinas, has this passage, which
is exactly to the purpose. “Scriptores quidam spirituales, pia
meditatione, observant, Christum Dominum toto vitæ suæ tempore sensisse,
in anima dolores mortis, quos passus est in cruce; quia præcognoscens
illos futuros, sibi eos vivacissime et perfecte omni tempore
representabat et acceptabat tanquam præsentes.”
_De Incarnatione, Quæst._ xl.
* * * * *
_Oh, of song and dance the pride._
It has been discovered by modern theologians, that Jephtha’s daughter
was not sacrificed by her father, but only devoted to a recluse and
virgin life. The Fathers, however, thought otherwise; and St. Augustine
sees in the transaction, a deep spiritual import. Of course I prefer his
comment, to Kimchi’s; but when I wrote this poem, the modern notion
struck me as a pretty fable, to which I was not unwilling to listen.
* * * * *
_Oh the blessings of him._
Such is the more literal rendering of the original Hebrew text, in the
first verse of the first Psalm. For the criticism I am indebted to my
preceptor, the late Prof. Nordheimer, of the University of New York,
whose sudden and early death is so universally regretted by the learned,
and lamented by his grateful pupils.
* * * * *
_When Israel from the land of Nile._
I cannot forbear to refer the reader, for a much better rendering of the
114th Psalm, to the critical and elegant translation of my friend and
brother, the Rev. George Burgess, M. A., of Hartford, whose metrical
version of the Psalms is such an honor to American literature and taste.
The peculiar beauty of the second verse, which I have sacrificed by
introducing the name of God, (which is only elegantly implied in the
original,) is in Mr. Burgess’ translation very happily preserved.
* * * * *
_That awful day of ire._
This is a free translation of some select portions of the _Dies_ _Iræ_;
so well known to English readers, by the fine imitation of Scott; and to
scholars, by the impressive use made of it by Goethe in his Faust. I
have partially imitated, as well as translated, several passages; that
famous one, in particular, which is known as the _Rex Tremendæ_. In so
doing, I have been forced, however, to sacrifice, in some degree, a
desirable gracefulness of expression, for the sake of approximating, in
some degree, to the sonorous melody of the Latin.
* * * * *
_Not unto us, oh Lord, our God._
I have put together, this hymn, and the translation of the _Te_ _Deum_,
which follows, because the _Non Nobis_ was once always associated with
that sublime doxology, in Thanksgiving services; though now seldom heard
of, except as performed at public dinners, on the removal of the cloth.
The exclamation of Henry V., on the field of Agincourt, is familiar to
all:
Do we all holy rites,
Let there be sung _Non Nobis_ and _Te Deum_.
It is interesting, also, to remember, that _Te Deum_ was the first
Christian thanksgiving ever offered to God, in this hemisphere. The
piety of Columbus, at once suggested the propriety of its use, when he
found himself the discoverer of a New World; and the hymn that was
introduced to public worship, in the Cathedral at Milan, at the baptism
of Augustine, was made the offering of a free heart, when the first
European foot was planted in America. We doubt whether any thing as good
was chaunted on Plymouth Rock; though had the Pilgrim Fathers been
Churchmen, they would have found in the Psalms for the day, a very
appropriate as well as inspired thanksgiving: “Then are they glad
because they are at rest; and so He bringeth them unto the haven where
they would be. Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his
goodness; and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of
men.”
* * * * *
_Holy Orders._
In the last verse the allusion is to the text, “Let not him that girdeth
on his harness boast himself, as he that putteth it off.” I. _Kings_,
xx. 11th.
* * * * *
I trust the reader has noticed that the arrangement of these Lays has
not been merely fortuitous. They are meant to succeed each other, as did
the experiences which suggested them, from the pursuit of trifles, to
the choice of God’s holy service; and to exhibit as a moral what St.
Augustine so appositely says in his confessions: Tu, Domine, excitas,
_ut laudare Te delectat_; quia fecisti nos ad Te, et inquietum est cor
nostrum, donec requiescat in Te.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Preface, 3
HALLOWEEN, 5
Notes to Halloween, 64
LAYS, MEDITATIVE AND DEVOTIONAL, 67
Dedication, 69
Preface, 71
Give me the Hour, 73
Hymn of the Wreath, 75
Star that Hast, 78
Stanzas, 81
Canzonet, 82
Thou art gone to the Land, 83
Song, 84
Canzonet, 85
Caution, 87
Oh Where’s the Hope, 87
Canzonet, 89
I’ve Left the Giddy Throng, 91
March, 93
Lake Byrom, 95
Stanzas, 96
Lament, 98
The Zenaida Dove, 101
Remember, 103
Christmas, 104
Oh Would I were happy, 106
The Mirage, 108
Meditation, 109
Lines, 110
Hymn, 111
Hymn, 113
Home Music, 114
To all that’s Glorious and Bright, 116
There is a Land, 118
The Heart’s Song, 120
Lament, 121
In Radiance He came, 122
Lament of the Virgins, 125
The Last Plague of Egypt, 128
Hymn to the Redeemer, 131
Stanzas, 134
Stanzas, 135
But Thou, oh Lord, 136
Verses, 137
Still as our Day, 137
There’s not a Cloud, 139
Oh Walk with God, 140
The Land of Beulah, 142
Hymn in Holy Week, 143
Hymn, 145
Mariner’s Hymn, 147
Little Hymn, 148
Thy Glory, Lord, 150
Hymn for the Dead, 151
The First Psalm, 152
Our God in Glory, 153
When Israel from the Land of Nile, 155
Right Glad was I, 156
Orisons, 157
Advent Hymn, 160
Not Unto us, 163
Thee, God, we Praise, 164
A Lent Hymn, 167
Stanzas for Eastertide, 168
Hymn for Holy Thursday, 170
Hymn for Trinity Sunday, 171
Let out thy Soul, 173
Watchwords, 176
Holy Orders, 178
Notes, 183
H. S. PARSONS
Has for sale, by the author of _Halloween_,
ATHANASION,
Second Edition, with Notes.
Also will publish shortly, in uniform with Halloween,
CHRISTIAN BALLADS,
Second Edition, with Additions.
⁂ Several poems published with the former edition of the Ballads, have
been retained in their proper places, among the Lays published with
Halloween, as they will not again be printed with the Ballads.
Also, H. S. P. has in press,
ANCIENT HYMNS OF HOLY CHURCH,
BY
J. WILLIAMS, M. A.,
Rector of St. George’s, Schenectady.
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Notes:
Hyphenation and archaic spellings have been retained as in the original
text. Punctuation and obvious typesetting errors have been corrected
without note.
* * * * *
[End of _Halloween, A Romaunt with Lays, Meditative and Devotional_, by
Arthur Cleveland Coxe]