New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-13
RRH PUBLI0d T1ONS.
bAYARD TAYLORs PICTURE OF ST. JOHN
kHE PICTURE or ST. JOHN By BArAHD 1ASseA
12uo 10 90 TIchnos a Fields.


kuH PtorUKE or ST. JOHN. By BAIASD 9ASsoR
12mo 70 90 TchnO5 Fields.
La an imaginary personal experience OF adeytteo Of
at Ghe author Of this poem has depicted the history
Ma human sou through successive degrees Ofproge@
k,on the sway OF sensual passion 10 the pure ans no
BE hights ot serene selfoOntol and artistic aspire
aloB. The oelineshon Of profound Development o.
Me, universal in its principles, hut individual m i@
spvheatiOu is the theme Of the composition ~ d
genuine work Of ART founded on On ethical Analysis
And devoted 70 the illustration OF an etnio@ uea
More ambitious in IS aims, and more elaborate ID i'S
construction. than any Of Mr. TAylors previous Poeh
sal productions, IL shows more vigorous exercise o.
the rosec,ive faculty. with not less fertility OF imsg
aaiion. or picturesque beauty OF DESCRIPTION Inc
.,sh fances with which II sbounds in chastened
tape 0f expression beraying fund Of reseryedpoWeI
while thew are combined with o weight OF thought
Ihat lends an almost phosopbic dignity 70 its eres
IiSns Not that we mean 10 intimate that u mas the
character Of ddactc poem IN which the expression
Of beauty is made subseryent TO the elucdatlon OF
kath for although it sets forth high ideal OF the
sins and the conduct of life, the aesthetic purpose II
eTYEhere predominant, and the smiling wisdom
Of the lessons which it iDculcates is always vailed IN
lovely external forms. The outward ana inward
hfe are blended IN singularly harmonious pro
ROrtions As q history Of the formation OF an IN
4Iydus mind it possesses rare attTaoSns, Whle lts
AeineGtons Of nature and s porTalture OF incidents
Rresent @ secession of charming images that could
have been discovered only by poets eye and poets
Aeart The composition bears the marks OF great,
nerhap4 Il nav be deemed, Of excessive elaboration.
But its strength is not wasted away in the dehcacles
Of superhuOus refinement. Its danuest concepuons
and imagery exhibit no traces OF ettemlnaey. Inc
Sone throughout the poem is manly athletic, sell
containing Occasionally the rhythm and style OF Illus
traton suggest comparison with earlier poets, snow
hg that in his own artistic culture the winter has
Aept good company, has been oOnYersant WIN inc
choicest models, ndf in some cases ne has yleOeu
70 the influence of magnetic nature instead OF court
Rpg Unborn sources Of inspratioD-has brought away
golden fruits from the intercourse. lhOugh NOT zen
Sent in vitality the poem is characterized by lnehect
Gather than by passion The authOris always Thought
sal selEpOssessed perhaps little too grave OF times;
RDd although his lines are colored with the rudy
glow Of sensuOus life, henever gives way to lmpetnous
estacies never mistakes the delrOus surges OF emo
tOn for the healthy impulses OF nature. In TINS
SesBeet the present work may be regarded as an ad
vance on his former poems. 1t establishes ms IalS
among the poets Of study and cultivation VINO ouhd
the "lOty rhyme a solid basis of thought and IN
nOspeetion, instead Of relying chiefly on the sweet
0nossness Of feeling and breathing out the raptures
Ofpasson in spontaneous melody.
After a dedcatOry pr0em, in which Mr. Iayor pays
graceful tribute of friendship to certain artists IN
bis familiar social circle, We are introduced 10 the
Ahef parsonage of the volume, who proceeds to relate
Che history of his own being and experience, showing
bow the tragedy Of life may be conquered by the IN
eoence of noble purpose and strenuous resolve Inc
following passage illustrates the spirit Of bis con-
EsGions:
For truly be that reverently holds
The wonder Of his being bowed in ave
OF what divine or dread himself infods
, .. And bOundess liberty and steTnest law
COmmingled he alone is counted worth
10 face the solemn facts Of Death and Birth.
And break Ais path across the wids Of Earth
Such I am, in soul and sense
Distinct existing in my separate night
And though Power, beyond my elOudedsight,
ed 5S% Of Sq TS6s s 6@o sa coSe
That life is mine its torture, its delight
Repeat not those that were before
Or ever shall be mine are Day and Night.
A toour in Italy was an essential element in the
education Of the artist and his first visit to that land
Of enchAntment gives rise 20 an admirably faithful
3OIiIaiture Of the natural features of its scenery.
FuIlOrbeds in rosy dusk the perfect moon
That evening shOne; the torrents noise, afhr,
No longer menAoed, but with mellow tune
sang 70 the twinkle Of Q silver star
The moon the star the torrent said TO me-
sleep thou in peace, the morning will unber -
These Alpine gates, and give thy world to thee o."
And morning did unfold the jnttng cspes
OF chestnut wooded hills, that held embayed
Warn eoyss Of fruit, the pines Eoisn shsde
.oa 4 and whose forms hTeiieT grace betrayed
And only gloomed, amid the dancing shapes
OF vine and bough, the pointed cypress-shaft!
On,-on through broadening vale and frightening sun
The olives tFinked: many terrace rose
-, With marbles crowned and jasmine overun,
And orshsrds where the ivory sik,wom span.
On IoaS sSHiDs guisPPr D I'D it, 2. pDlPy fruit
&da1S.eyed shepherd piped reeOJ ta.@
The picture of Venice in the following stanSaa -
Ane specimen Of accurate description;
This was the gate to Artists Fairyand
The palptatng waters kissed the shores
Gureled IN sIarking coils beneath the oars
And Tapped the marble stairs on either hand
SamnOning Beauty 70 her holiday
While noiseless gondolas at palace doors
. Waited end over all in charmed delay
San Marcos moon gazed from her golden slandi
silent city where no Gathering wheels
Jar tie white pavement cool the streets and demo-
10 light their mellow darkness: where the pesls
OF Trades harsh clarions never vex the ear
But the wide blue above, the green below,
Her pure Paladian palaces insphere,
PDes, whose steps the grass shall never grow
The temptations which assaed the soul Of the artist
IN the early part OF bis career, and which, after
brief season Of wild indulgence were triumphantly
conquered are depicted in glowing Language:
found girl before San Marcos shrine
Kneeling an gilded gloom her awny hair
Rpped across yOluptUous shoulders bare
And something IN the altar-tsper's shine
Sparkled like falling tears. This CARL shall be
Nv sorTow1ng Magdaen, as guilty sweet,
] said. no when, pure Christ she knelt 70 thee,
And laid her blushing forehead on thy feet'
She sat before me. Like a sunny brook
Poured the unbranded nppleS softly round
The balmy dels but loft one snowy mound
Bare in its beauty then met her look
Hhe cOnquering OF those bold eyes, which made
All GOdl the unTepented Sin more fair
Than Magdalen kneeng with her humbled hair
Or Agatha beneath the qu9sors blade!
. ,'a what ifny ohaste ambition wayered then
What II the vail from mine nature fell
And Obeyed the old Ciroean spell,
And lived fer living, not for painted mems
Youth follows Life as bees the honeywell
And nghtingales the norhward march Of Spring
And once, a daEzled mO.h, must try his wing,
Though but to seorch IL in the blaze Of Hell
why only mimic what i might possess
The cheated sense that reTes 10 delight
MOcked at ray long denial touch and sight
The warmth Of wine. the sensuous Oyeliness
OF offered lips and bOsoms breaking through