The Portland daily press., 1878-12-30
Bayard Taylor.
IN. Y. World


The latest poem written by Bayard Tay lor
was prepared to be read in honor of Bryant at
the Century club; and having been read there
by Mr.. Macdonough, it was sent in accordance
with the authors permission to Scribner' 8
Monthly, in the number of which just issued
for January it now appears. What could more
touchingly herald the tidings of the dead poets
obsequies in a foreign land which will reach
us tomorrow than the fifth verse of his cwn
"Epjcedium" for the venerable poet who has
preceded him but so short time on the last long
journey of men to that land whence no return
ing envoy comes?
And last, We Forms, with shrouded face,
Hiding the features of your woe
That on the fresh sod of his burial place
Your myrtle, oak and laurel throw
stFSHge e. ts ry yo'sr aspect, alien your attire;
Your unknown speech for Grief's august desire?
Lo! one, with gifted brow
Says: NAY, he knew and loved me: l am Spain?'
Another: 81 am Germany,
Drawn sadly nearer now
By songs Of his and l. mine that make one strain,
And from the hills of Greece there blew
A wind that shook the olives of Peru,
Till all the world that knew,
Or knowing not, shall yet awake to know
The sweet humanity that fused his song
The haugoty challenge unto Wrong,
And for the tr mpled Truth his fearless blow
Acknowledged his exalted mood
OF faith achieved in song -boi n solitude
And gave him high acclaim
With those who followed Good and found it Fame!
Not less interestiL g, and not less pathe tic in
its interest, perchance, is the letter with
which Mr. Taylor forwarded this ''Epicedium"
to his friend Mr. A. r. Macdonough, and
which shows how busy and how full Of happy
schemes and hopes but three short months ago
was the brain DOW at rest forever. We are
allowed by Mr.. Macdonough to make public the
following passages from this letter.
AMERICAN LEGATION, Ct BEHRENsTRAssE,
BERLIN, September I3, 1878.
My Dear Rodney:-Here is Epicedium and
would it were worthier! But fin il no easy mat
ter to write in my present. situation and condition
Secretary Everett is of ON leave of ABSENCE; Secre-
tary Coleman and myself have our hands fuil, aud
there i suddenly great rush of American visitors
to Berlin, who call nponme at all hours of the day.
Besides, although imp owing so much physically. /
find that my long starvation-cure has We akened me
somewhat, and The necessary poetca Abstraction is
more dugrefeud than usual trust, hIwever, that
your reading will cover the most of my deficiency.
Fiske (of CornelD has just spent ten days with me-
and Boyes0n and his wife will be here month yet.
is very bright and happy Socisty is slowly strug
Cling back; but we don't-and can't see much of it
yet, being very busy with the job Of furnishing
quarters, into which we move October 1. Then
shat have my plvate office, eau arrange my libra
~, ami finally get to work.
saw tie Lobe Herrschaften of Saxe-Weimar at
the royal wedding at PotsdaD, and was most hearth
ly received by them; so cherish a private hope of
ge ting some hidden Goethe material The Duke of
Saxe-Cobu has also sent me his privately p inted
volume OF poems -and they are not bad My great
est cheer is that the legation busioess is not iksome
all the ordinary drudgery being taken off my hands.
shall be able to keep enough freshness for my own
work without neglectiDg any duty.
If you don't write sooner. you certainly must
write Immediately after the Bryant commemoratlon
and tell me all about it. bAYARD TAYLOR.
sI have lost twentv.five nounds,