New-York tribune., 1874-09-12

,ha ravan wbo snread for him his rock in the wilder
ness with food This mysterious supply had been tli'
now his sure pledge himself OF his Divine appoint
ment Now suddenly. all his world grew DARK ana III
heaven there was light He went alone into the Tenn
ne and there face face he felt with God he cried
out in his despair. For the frat time he has lost MS
faith in himself He Is not Gods Prophet, perhaps
then what is he but the rashest vaines weakest most
self.conHdent and presumptous Of sinners UNKNOWN
to lin Livia has followed him; and, us ions
ago Rhoda supplied food for DIS pou!'
so now she offers sweet sustenance to HIS
soul. He answers his longing with divinest mus'c'
that sinks and swes falls and rises again into rapture
II 1t the chors OF heaven, ana not ero
organ made by man, touched by woman's nnRers'
Glory grows about the Prophet and his soul ia upoorne
TO the nights OF heavenly ecstacyand then she comes
forward with her dark, dangerous eyes, aud lets MIN
find in her Heavens messeDger-this music came
through touch indeed, but 1t was the voice Vi
inspiration flowing through her SOUL lie Oehe'es anu
he loves so mans desire tricks itself out OF dou u
cree and poygamy becomes the duty ana tne oehs"'
Of the faithful .
Mr.. Taylor has drawn his prophet marvelousy "eh'
He has shown how all things played on his sensitive
nature-how, deceving others, he deceived himseh
rst-how might of his love and the necessity ooJuS
tfy 1t created his creed But 1t seems to me tne TWO
women are less strongly painted. You see' hneoo'
Rhodas genduring tenderness the meekness Oh cr
Lva gows on the printed page in her ripe beauty; he
intellectual power her devotion, which is passion ana
calls itself worslp-but you feel, somehow, that more
might have been made of this deepest Tragedy Oh al
the cross and passion Of two women's hearts,
After this the book hurries to its close. The Genties
persecue the Fathfuthe Faithful are treacherous 10
their Prophet-there is contest in which Gabriel Is
shot through breast and brought into the Temple
with Rhoda and Liyia supporting him, one on either
side He leans against the altar, and cries, ialDt
oh for little life 1t fades so fastl
Hear me, my brethren will only speak ~
Words needful not too late, the shadow Ials
That yeiled mine eyes confusion mas an emu
NIMRoD.
(ASide)
"-'' (ALoud 10 the people1
Silence, all 4! The Prophet speaks
In this extremity, to you
(Wi@ d,eieAtyJ IN,
Each word you utter steals word of NIUE
And few are left ne: let me but begin
But sp" ch grows weak All. hearken. brethren mine
r.Ow say 1t alli Ipray you, 1ld your sous sous
Rise quickly up, and save me half U G0d
Itis for Thee Leave me one moment mere!
See, | am dyng On the edge OF life,
Truths lightning flashes backward and beyond:
SO hearl FIRST Hold me firm, slide away!
Lord, Lord be merciful! no time Is lett!
see no more-but, yes one blessed face:
IT'S yours !-you're with me, RhOda l-you my love!
And So in the arms Of her who had loved him first he
died-his latest love looking on, with dark full OF
an unfathomable woe.
How does it rank as poem with Mr.. Taylors pre-
yious efortsi In my opinion it is of much more i'm
portance and interest than Lars" In 1.-THE Masque Of
the Gods" appears to that Mr. Taylor touched his
high water mark 1t surpasses anything else he
has done, in largeness of conception, in power
OF Imagination. But "The Prophet" excels 1t
in dramatic power. The character OF David is
drawn with dignihed and effOrtless smpelty-you see
without any explanations being forced upon you pre-
csey what he was and what chain of influences went
to make nlm what The purity Of Psychological
insight this revelation OF the man, always deceiyer
but always his own first dupe, deserves great praise
The minor characters also we'll rendered, and the
influence of mind upon mind is adroitly managed The
public, who have been accustomed to regard Mr. Taylor
as par ereeenee traveller must become accustomed to
the praises Of Taylor the poet L. c. NJ