The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-28
THE MAsQUE OF PANDORA.
IoNGFELIow,s NEW VOLUME.


stest volume in Thursd <y's issue as fol-
ows: Mr.. Longfellow's new volume, "The
Mssque of Pandora, and other POEMS"
published by j. X. 0sgood & Co., will soon |
De on erybody's center table, for Longfellow /
3 one of the spIsll half dozen of our poets
who are read Universally. There is gentle |
uiness o. the day that has been
bright shd tranquil, and Is wearing
toward sunset. The time Of "The Village
Blacks NTH, ;" and The Psalm of Life" and
. The Wreck of the Hesperus" Is oyer-the
wor * of to-day is more classic, more re-
po Ssiul, has less to do with the work-a-day
world. :" The Mssque of Pandora is, OF
course, the old Greek myth. Hephsestus has
moulded the statue OF Pandora In SOFT clay,
and made it fair as the fssrest woman. He
stands gazing at the dumb lips, the lovely
form enwrapped In its floating drapery, and,
looking, is satisfied with his work. The
voice OF Zeus calls to him, and asks if his
task is done; and Hephestus answers that
it is finished But Zeus declares his inten-
ton to
BREATHE INTO THE STATUE THE BREATH OF
LIFE.
The gods shall shower on her their benefits
she shall possess all gifts
the gift OF song,
The gift of e'oQuence, the gift OF beauty.
The fascination and the nameless charm
That shall lead all men captive.
Then comes the wind of inspiration, and
Pandora is alive; and then the graces sing
around her their chorus. The chant of Tina
liza describes the new lair woman thus:
o sweet pale face! lovely eyes of azure,
Clear as the waters of a brook that run
Limpid and laughing In the summer sun!
golden hair that like miser's treasure
In its abundance overfiows the measure!
- graceful form, that cloudlike hoatest on
With the soft, undulating gait OF one
Who moveth as If motion were pleasure.
Then Hermes is sent from olympus to
take the beautiful woman to Prometheus,
against whom the gods had arrayed them
selves in enmity. This errand pleased mis-
chief loving Hermes, for, as he said TO him.
self, while putting on his sandals:
What mischiefIies concealed
In this design | know not; but know
Who thinks of marrying hath already taken
One step upon the road 10 penitence.
But Prometheus was too strong and too
wise. In vain the fair gift of the gods stood
there before him in all her lissome grace.
Wasted on him were the soft glsnces of the
azure eyes.
THE AFFLUENCE OF THE GOLDEN HAIR.
He answers Hermes sternly:
/ mistrust
The gods and all their gifts. If they have sent
1t is for no good purpose.
In vain were all the wiles of Hermes, the
soft Requirements OF Pandora-Prometheus
was resolute. Then the iates sing their cho-
rus, and resolve that unto some idle dreamer
shall be borne.
This new toy and fascination,
| This new dalliance and delight!
| To the garden where reposeS
| Epimetheus crowned with roses,
| To the door that never closes
| Upon pleasure and temptation,
| Bring this vision of the night.
Hermes returns to Olympus, and the scene
of the poem changes TO the house OF Epime-
| theus. Before this door, be sure, the gift OF
the gods does not knock in vainl Epime-
thens beholds her and cries.
Beautiful apparitionl go not henceI
Surely thou art goddess, for thy voice
| is a celestial melody, and thy form
Self-poised as II IL hoated on the air!
PANDORA.
No goddess am 1, nor of heavenly birth,
| But a mere woman fashioned out of clay,
| And mortal as the rest.
EPIMETHEUs.
| Thy face is fair;
There is a wonder in thine azure eyes
That fascinate me. Thy whole presence seems
A soft desire, a bi eathing thought of love.
say, would thy star like Merope's grow dim
II thou sh0uldst wed beneath thee?
PANDORA.
| Ask me not
cannot answer thee. only know
The gods have sent me bither.
The talk goes on between them, and his
love grows with it. She Delights in the
beauty of the house, whose atmosphere
hreathes rest and comfort, and whose many
chambers seem full OF welcomes. She wan
ders around, with the gentle wonder in her
| pleased eyes, and sees a marvellous oaken
chest, carved with quaint figures and en-
bossed with gold. She inquiries what it con-
| tains, and finds that Epimetheus does moi
himself know, the oracle having forbidden
him to open it. They go forth, then, into
the garden, and amid the choruses OF the
birds and the reeds they tell each other
stories OF the gods aud godesses, all turning
somehow upon love. In the midst of theil
talk Prometheus appears, and Pandora fees
into the house. PTometheus sees her van
ishing form, ascertains who 1t IL, and warns
his brother against her. As if there evel
we're lover who needed warning; Mean
time
PANDORA wANDERs THROUGH THE HOUSE
and is attracted and tempted by the mysteri
Gus chest. She resists bravely, and lie.
down to sleep until he should return, " who
Is her dawn, her day." But, through tht
ivory gate of dreams. temptation again as
sails her, and she wakes aud yields to it
She lifts the lid of the chest, and a dense
mist arises which fills the room. Pandors
falls senseless; and wild storm breaks
without. The storm, when IL passes, leaves
utter ruin and desolation behind it
Epinetheus seeks Pandora; and the inter
view between them is exquisitely imagined
} She tells him she dares not lift her eyes II
his, being no longer worthy of his love. Sht
prays him for death, not pardon. At las
he discovers what has been her fault, anC
cries out, "I am undone?" but, momen
later, he Is ready to assume all the blam,
himself. His was the tault-his, who haC
. told her there was a secret, and lett her II
temptation. Then she cries:
Why didst thou return?
Eternal absence would have been TO me
The greatest punishment 80 be left alone
And face to face with my own crime had been
Just retribution. Upon me, ye gods,
Let all your vengeance fall
EPIkETHEUs.
On thee and me.
do not love thee less for what is done,
And can not be undone. Thy very weakness
hath brought thee nearer 10 me, and hence
forth