The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-02-26

piscsof the wood Of tbs true eroas. The memory
& mot sufficient
=. And Monseigneur has seen tho Hill Of
Cavalrya
4. Beneath an angry sky, and blood stained
cloud.
II. Andyou have gathered flowers Ia the Gar.
den OF Ollveaf
A. When they were bathed with the tears Of the
stars, when they were soed In the dust, Ike
parted tunic.
r. Oh, the happy seigneur who has seen oil this
who has kissed with his lips the stone OF the Sc
pulchre. Tell me, what's heard at eventide In NOSE
leaty bowers
A. A nams-ever the same-the mama OF an
eternal pilgrim, that every Leaf murmurs with
groan.
r. i. must be joy for ones whole life to have
seen what you have Now you can die content
when old age comes. Al the loot OF the ohVe
trees we're there not kneeling angels singing hymns
| frsm golden books
above nv heads and owls, whose wings huttered
| DER my cheeks. {Aside Mercy Mercy
| r. Were there not little children, glory crowned
with hands meekiy folded, who said, ever smiling
i MY father, my father 7
| K. No There were vipers. that Missed beneath
my feet There was a voice from the waves, tina,
| cried Accused accursed
| r. / understand. You are holy man. Let me
| kiss your feet.
| The story of Raehel's love is perhaps the best
portion of the whole book. The curse weighs less
heavily upon poor Ashasuerus, now that he has dis
covered this fountain of deep and true affection
II ie like dream of the Holy Paradise Frightening
the dark clouds of earth's despair. And yet this
transitory CLEAN OF happiness is strangely trou-
b.ed. There Is no grand repose therein; all Is tu-
| multi and excitement. The cruel and relentless
mob is ever at hand to dash the cup OF blessing
| from the lips of the devoted pair. She conducts
the betrohed the cathed al OF Strasburg, where
| amid terrors of a stormy eve, the ghost oil Pope
Gregory rises by the altar to perform the marriage
| Ger srnopy But Ahasuerus Is unable to pronounce
| his name voice, too well remembered, thun-
ders 1t forth; and again. In that solemn temple, the
| anathema of Calvary is renewed. Nevertheless
love that conquers all things is once more trlum-
phant; and Rachel's cry for mercy strikes at the
| very gate of heaven.
This scene is followed by an interlude, In which
the poet stands before US 10 propria PERSONA chant
| ing mournful dirge over the hopes and faiths and
buried loves OF yore.
| The fourth day is the Il asst Judgment ALI the
| world has received the sentence of good or evil
| and finally. Ahasuerus and Rachel appear before
| the bar OF the Divine Being. The Jew has drained
the bitter chalice to the dregs, and now ne hears
| for the first time the voice OF pardoning mercy,
which informs him that henceorth. if he WILL the
| benedicton OF a sweet repose shall be his. But
| no he demands life, not rest He would COM
mence nober pilgrimage, and 80 would wander
| on untiringly from world TO world, until finally
he attains the everlasting source of the Infinite and
| the divine And > exclains Rachel, would fol-
low him.' Then, in solemn accents, we hear the
| sentence of the approving Judge;
That voice has saved thee Ahasuerrs bless thee,
o pilgrim OF worlds 10 come, and the second Adam.
| Render back TO the the burden Of thy earthly sor
/ rows Instead of the pig rin-stah, bear 10 thy
hand starry palm The dew OF heaven shall nou-
IRISH thee better than the tountain of the desert
| The universe shall follow in thy track. Wander
on therefore, from life to life, from world to world,
from divine city to another from circle to cir
cIe end when finally, thou shalt have arrived at
the inhnite centre, whence all things proceed, and
where gravi.ate souls, and years, and peoples and
stsrs thou shalt cry TO the stars 70 the people, to
| the universe, if they flag the upward journey
EDWARDS ever EDWARDS. 1t is here.
Now II the Mystery of AAasoeras had ended
here, depicting the arduous course of humanity
pilgrim and aspirant-all had been well. NJ. Qui-
net, however, favors with q very gloomy ep-
losue which really reads the spotheosis OF despair
aud yet this is not its meaning. We presume the
author intended to prefgure the eclipse of faith In
these latter times beneath the clouds of doubt and
unhelief. But why Is this not set forth Why
does AhasUerus close with song OF hope and glad
ness, instead OF wall of solitary woY Some of the
authors contemporaries have termed Ahdsperns an
| epic drama, grand tresco, and SO forth IL IT,
however, sadly deficient in the Informing soul of
| high purpose, and In the fair harmony of proper
tons which ought to characterize enduring work
| Its general tone 10 decidedly unhealthy; for il
gives us the cloud instead of the sunshine the 81
lence of deep despair instead of the rejoicing an
| thems OF an immortal hope Chambers Edinbars
| Journal