In years of deep sorrow the first chapters of “The Pilgrimage of Sorrow,” “Sappho,” “Hammerstein,” “Over the Waters,” and “Shipwreck” appeared. The four last mentioned poems were published together, and called “Storms.” Carmen Sylva dedicates this work “To the unseen heroism of women,” with the following poem-- “Unto you--who have courage and patience for woe, Whose souls by earth’s fire are annealed; Whose hearts the fierce furnace of passion aglow Hath sanctified, purified, steeled. Unto you--who in tempest of misery caught Lift heads with an unabashed daring; Unto you, who in solemn sereness of thought The burdens of life are bearing! Unto you--who like sunbeams, that palpitate, bring Brightness and warmth--and those only! Chief givers of grace and of gladdening To the earth, else so frozen and lonely. Unto you--who with brave lips set firm in a smile Over mountains of trouble have wended; Who, cheered by no clarions of glory erewhile, Have in glorious battles contended. Battles, where no hand the bright laurel twines, But where tears fall, bitter and hidden-- To you--to the undeclared heroines, This ‘Book of the Women’ is bidden.” --_Translated by Sir Edwin Arnold._ “I was much hurried whilst writing ‘Hammerstein’ and ‘Sappho,’ for I always thought that death would overtake me before their completion. I wrote ‘Sappho’ because I was angry with Grillparzer, for I thought that a noble and elevated feeling should act upon so grand a character as that of Sappho. Instead of making a noble and elevated character out of this struggling and suffering woman, the poet thought he had a right to desecrate her. It seemed to me unworthy of her to throw herself into the sea because she had been deceived. It was more natural and poetical to sacrifice herself for her child. It is characteristic of me that I cannot regard what is termed ‘Love’ as the motive power of all actions. “Sappho lived in Sicily, surrounded by young girls, to whom she taught the art of poetry. I have amused myself in making portraits of my maids of honour.” Carmen Sylva read the poem, in which she had depicted the sad trials of the life of Sappho, to the young friends around her. “Will ye the last of love-melodies hearken, Which from the lips of the poetess flowed at the end of her singing? Sappho her voice uplifted, and softly the music resounded, Whilst round about stood listening intent her lovely companions. ‘Of the power I sing, world-mastering, Which beauty to beauty enchains; Whereto the gods bow, and the earth in her swing-- To which all that is born pertains. I sing of the might that in flowers leaps to light, What wakes the still seed from its rest; Which glows on the cheek of the maiden bright, And burns in her lover’s breast.