Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 6, June 1852Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 6, June 1852
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
As the adventurer, he who first traversed the Amazon, lost in the wood
which covers, thick, the base of Chimborazo, shutting out day and night,
listened with large wonder, mixed fear and joy, to the war of elements
unchained within its bowels; so Erix and Zella, with all their tribe,
listened to the first voice of that strange instrument which Ariel,
gifted of God, after many days, raised high, midway the mountains and
the sea. He had caught and tamed, to answer to the touch of a skill
creative, the sure interpreter of matter and of mind; and the vast soul
which, in these latter days, is well shadowed forth in that book of
love, called The People. He, in a page resplendent with holy fire, and
with a name here unrecognized, is given to every true believer as the
builder of the Organ, and inventor of that art which raises man close to
the footstool of his Maker; and as the notes—new to mortal ears—rose
deep, heavy, filling the forest wide, overcoming the distant murmur of
the sea, overcoming all voices of all life, rumbling, changed to the
clangor of great strifes run for in the future upon many an unbattled
plain, to close in a hymn so soft, so melting, so full of sweet
acknowledgment of the power by God intrusted to a noble end: even Zella,
who had watched his toils and marked their purpose, fell prostrate;
while Erix and his brethren, trembling, fled; nor turned till the music,
wild with joy and that laughter which leaps from youth, and health, and
a breast vacant of all care, soothed their unknown fears, and drew them
with a golden cord, slow tracing back their steps, again to listen,
again to wonder, and again to admire; till, grown familiar, they
expressed with cries, sad shouts, and gestures violent, their new bliss,
and circling, danced. Then, catching the measure, as Ariel’s marvelous
hand poured forth a song of high gratitude for the gift of chiefest
excellence in all that store of heaven’s bounty by himself enjoyed, they
gave rhythm for rhythm.
SECTION III.
“Now, do we know, O God, that thy love endureth for ever.”
“Sweet, even unto thee, was the voice of Adam.”
“Sweet, even unto thee, was the voice of Eve.”
“Our great mother;”
“Our good mother;”
“Fairer than the star of the morning, Eve.”
“Speak for us, Adam;”
“Speak for us, Eve;”
“These are thy voices,”
“In Paradise rejoicing.”
“We hear thee, mother,”
“Glorious,”
“Amid the flowery paths walking.”
“O, lift from my soul this evil,”
“Greater than they may bear!”
“And it is lifted, mother;”
“And the breath of flowers thou didst train,”
“Sweet-scented,”
“And the warble of birds thou didst instruct,”
“To praise the growing light,”
“And the heaving of thy bosom,”
“Pleading,”
“Face to face,”
“Come to us,”
“Swell over us,”
“Cover us,”
“As with a sea of infinite delight,”
“O, matchless beauty of a matchless skill;”
“Unborn;”
“Fallen through love!”
“We hear thee,”
“We feel thee,”
“Breathing,”
“Breathing upon our ears;”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account