按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
or catch the driving gale； Smoothly and steadily its course is steered； Until
the shadow of yon cliff is neared； And then； as if some barrier； hid below
The river's breast； had caught its gliding prow； Awhile； uncertain； o'er its
watery bed； It hangs； then vanishes； and in its stead； A wan； pale light
burns dimly o'er the； wave That rolls and ripples by Mazelli's grave。
Notes To Mazelli
Note 1。
〃And how its long and rocky chain Was parted suddenly in twain；
Where through a chasm； wide and deep； Potomac's rapid waters sweep；
While rocks that press the mountain's brow Nod O'er his waves far； far
below。〃
〃The passage of the Potomac； through the Blue Ridge； is perhaps； one
of the most stupendous scenes in nature。 You stand on a very high point of
land。 On your right comes up the Shenandoah； having ranged along the
foot of the mountain a hundred miles to seek a vent。 On your left
approaches the Potomac； seeking a vent also。 In the moment of their
junction； they rush together against the mountain； rend it asunder； and pass
off to the sea。
〃The first glance at this scene hurries our senses into the opinion that
this earth has been created in time； that the mountains were formed first；
that the rivers began to flow afterwards； that； in this place particularly；
they have been dammed up by the Blue Ridge Mountains； and have
formed an ocean which filled the whole valley； that； continuing to rise；
they have at length broken over at this spot； and have torn the mountain
down from its summit to its base。
〃The piles of reckon each hand； but particularly on the Shenandoah；
the evident marks of their disrupture and avulsion from their beds by the
most powerful agents of nature； corroborate the impression。 But the distant
finishing which nature has given to this picture； is of a very different
character。 It is a true contrast to the foreground。 It is as Placid and
delightful as that is wild and tremendous。
20
… Page 21…
Mazelli； and Other Poems
〃For； the mountain being cloven asunder； she presents to the eye；
through the cleft； a small catch of smooth blue horizon； at an infinite
distance in the plain country； inviting you； as it were； from the riot and
tumult roaring around； to pass through the breach； and participate of the
calm below。〃Jefferson's Notes on Virginia。
Note 2。
〃Save the plaintive song of the whip…poor…will。〃
That the Indian mind and language are not devoid of poetry； the
names they have given to this bird （the whip…poor…will） sufficiently
evidence。 Some call it the 〃Muckawis；〃 others the 〃Wish…ton…wish；〃
signifying 〃the voice of a sigh；〃 and 〃the plaint for the lost。〃 Those； who in
its native glens at twilight； have listened to its indescribably melancholy
song； will know how beautifully appropriate these names are。
Note 3。
〃They； the foul slaves' of lust and gold； Say that our blood and hearts
are cold。〃
It has been advanced by some writers； that the almost miraculous
fortitude often displayed by Indians； under the most intense suffering； is to
be accounted for by their insensibility to pain； resulting； they allege； from
a defective nervous organization。 From the absence of a display of
gallantry and tenderness between the sexes； they argue also； in them； the
nonexistence of love； and its kindred passions。 This we think unjust； as it
robs them of the honours of a system of education； which is life…long； and
whose sole object is to attain the mastery of all feeling； physical or mental。
The view taken of this subject by Robertson； in his History of America； to
us； seems most accordant with truth。 He says： 〃The amazing steadiness
with which the Americans endure the most exquisite torments； has induced
some authors to suppose that； from the peculiar feebleness of their frame；
their sensibility is not so acute as that of other people； as women； and
persons of a relaxed habit； are observed to be robust men； whose nerves
are more firmly braced。 But the constitution of the Americans is not so
different in its texture； from that of the rest of the human species； as to
account for this diversity in their behaviour。 It flows from a principle of
21
… Page 22…
Mazelli； and Other Poems
honour； instilled early and cultivated with such care； as to inspire him in
his rudest state with a heroic magnanimity； to which philosophy hath
endeavoured in vain to form him； when more highly improved and
polished。 This invincible constancy he has been taught to consider as the
chief distinction of a man； and the highest attainment of a warrior。 The
ideas which influence his conduct； and the passions which take possession
of his heart； are few。 They operate of course with more decisive effect；
than when the mind is crowded with a multiplicity of objects； or distracted
by the variety of its pursuits； and when every motive that acts with any
force in forming the sentiments of a savage； prompts him to suffer with
dignity； he will bear what might seem impossible for human patience to
sustain。 But whenever the fortitude of the Americans is not roused to
exertion by their ideas of honour； their feelings of pain are the same with
those of the rest of mankind。〃
Note 4。
〃Bathed in the poisonous manchenille。〃
The slightest wound from an arrow dipped in the juice of the
Manchenille； causes certain and speedy death。 〃If they only pierce the skin；
the blood fixes and congeals in a moment； and the strongest animal falls
motionless to the ground。〃Robertson's America。
S。 L。 Sawtelle。
Dear Sir：
To you； who have given me friendship in adversity； counsel in
perplexity； and hope in despondency； permit me； as an expression of my
deep and lasting gratitude； to inscribe the 〃Misanthrope。〃
With sentiments of the highest respect；
Your obt。 servt。；
George W。 Sands。
Frederick City； September 1849。
Dramatis Personae。 WernerMisanthrope。 Manuela cottager。
Alberthis son。 Rebeccawife to Manuel。 Rosehis daughter。 Spirits。 An
aerial chorus。
22
… Page 23…
Mazelli； and Other Poems
THE MISANTHRAPE
RECLAIMED A Dramatic Poem
ACT I。
A fountain near the summit of a mountain； from which； through a deep
glen； a stream descends to the valley below。 A city seen in the distance。
Time； midnight。 Werner standing near the fountain。
Werner （solus）。
Eternal rocks and hills！ Mighty and vast； and you； ye giant oaks；
Whose massy branches have for centuries Played with the breeze and
battled with the storm； He； who so oft has trod your rugged paths； And laid
him down beneath your shades to rest； Returns to be your dweller once
again。 I sooner far would make your wilds my home； With nought but
your rude eaves to shield me from The winter's cold or summer's heat；
than be One of the hundred thousand human flies That swarm within yon
filthy city's walls。 Here； I at least may live in solitude； Free from a forced
communion with a race； Whose presence makes me feel that I am bound；
By nature； to the thing I loathe the most； Earth's stateliest； proudest；
meanest reptile； man！ The beauty of a god adorns his form； The foulness
of a fiend is in his heart； The viper's； or the scorpion's filthy nest Nurses a
far less deadly； poisonous brood Than are the hellish lusts； the avarice；
The pridethe hatethe double…faced deceits That make his breast their
dwelling。 If he be not beneath hell's wish to damn； Too lost for even fiends
to meddle with； How must they laugh to hear him； in his pride； Baptize his
vices； virtues； making use