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。