The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-05-29

powers OF mind and soul and physique
Any affections or inclinatiOns-Or
infatusiions-or atinities that may have pre-
coded this period of culmination are but
mere approaches toward the ultimate and
signal achievement in which the complete
conjuncture of all the forces that make up
humanity In its highest type apply them
selves to one object How ali the glories of
an artists soul gather in a halo of resplend-
ent light about the beloved head of that one
in whom the dreams of all the past have
found their fulfillment! If a child of the
muses. how gorgeous and how beautiful "the
high Pierean flowers of poesy with which
the idol is enwreathed. If, like poor Romney.
the sorcery of art possesses his pencil, what
weird and wonderful creations take shape
and hue under his touches till the very
breath OF life seems TO tremble on the lips
be copies from other lips his own have
kissed, or loDged TO kiss, thousand, thou
sand times, How all the marvellous phan-
tasmagoria OF his day dreams steal forth from
his canvas and meet his mortal sight in
tangible forms more enhancing than the
Protean spectre OF his vlSiOnsl And all these
look on him through the pictured eyes of
one woman for whom his soul suffers a
quenchless thirst
The fable OF the Cyprian sculptor is thus
reversed and Pygmalion turns his living
idol into senseless effigy-makes of the per-
ishable humanity deathless ideal image
that the world will pay its hottest homage to
while time abides on earth.
Raphael sleeps in dull. cold marble" but
La Fornarina smiles as bewitchingly upon
the art student from her gilded frame as
when the mighty master gathered from her
scarlet lips the nectar that intoxicated his
brain till il flashed forth the image of her
beauty in hues effulgent as his own SOUL
The sad traditions OF unhappy Lady Ham
ilton and all memory of Romney's love may
fade from history, but "age can not wither"
the bloom and freshness of that face of
beauty he has left US ''for remembrance"
Another phase of this subject is found in
never be realized in flesh and blood. Can
there be anything more noble and touching
than the story OF Carcamon:
His steed was old, his armor worn,
And he was old and worn and gray;
The light that lit his patient eyes
1t shone from very far away.
Through gay Provence he journeyed on:
To one high quest his life true,
And so they called him Carcamon-
The knight who seeketh the world through.
A pansy bIossomed on his shield;
"a token tits" the people say,
That still across the worlds wide field
He seeks IA dame de SEES pensees.'
For somewhere on painted wall,
Or in the city'S shifting crowd,
Or looking from easement tall,
Or shaped of dream or evening cloud
Forgotten when. forgotten where
Her face had Ill ed his careless eve
a moment ere he turned and passed,
Nor knew ii was his destiny.
Bpt ever in his dreams il came.
Divine and passionleSs and strong,
\ smile upon the i'm erial lips
No lovers kiss had dared wrong
He took his armor from the walt
All. gone since then was many day
He led his steed from out the stall,
And sought Ia dame de ses pensees.
The ladies OF the Troubadours
tame riding through the chestnut grove:
'Sir Minstrel, string that lutte of yours,
And sing us a gay song of love-"
40 ladies of the Troubadours.
My lutte has but single string;
Slrventes fit for paramours,
My heart Is not in tune 10 sing.
''The flower that blooms upon my shield
1t has another soil and spring
Than that wherein the gaudy rose
OF light Provence is blossoming.
1.-The lady OF my dreams doth hold
Such royal state within my mind,
No thought that comes unclad in gold
To that high court may entrance find"
So through the chestnut groves he passed,
And through the land and far away;
Nor know whether in the world
He found Ia dame de SEES pensees.
Only know that in the south
Long to the harp his tale was told;
Sweet as new wine within the mouth
The small choice words and music old.
o scorn the promise of the real
ITO seek and seek and not to find;
Set cherish still the fair ideal
1t is thy fate, o restless Mindi