The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-30
JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN.

| JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN.
The death Of Charles Jeremiah Wells. at Mar.
sellles on February II last. has revived public
interest IN the personal history and literary
productions Of this truly remarkable man.
Some years ago Swinburne and Dante Ros-
setti. the artist discovered and rescued from
oblivion his remarkable poem entitled Joseph
and His Brethren" poetioal and dramatic
rendition Of the biblical story OF Joseph. and
Hwinburne oUmmemorated the discovery In
| ono of those exquisite critical articles which
no one but Swlnburns has been capable
of writing since the death of Edgar A. Poe.
whose analysis Of the Poetic Principle by
the way. Swinburne appears 10 have accepted
without reservation. and the truth N which
he has illustrated by some Of the most a,,ia.
cious and, at the same time, most classical
and brilliant poetlcal productions Of the age
Had we the space II would be delightful
| task 10 go On and show the homage Swim
burne has paid to the genius Of Poe. In all
| his nober productions. but II II of Wells and
| his great poem that we wish to speak 1T this
| time.
| As we propose to favor our readers with
copious extracts from the fragmentary pas
| sages of this noble poem published IN the
New York press. we shall barely have space
| 10 tell, In the brieIest fashion. who Its author
was. and how this, his masterpiece. was re-
scued from oblivion. Charles Wells was born
IN London, In 1901. of well-to.do parents. and
was educated nj Edmonton, where he was a
class mate Of Tom Keats. the brother Of the
poet Ite Ia described by those who knew
him then IA a ed-headej chubby, lazy boy,re.
markable only for his vivaoity, wit and hui
NOR. How he took to writing poetry no one
ever knew, and his own unqualified and sincere
depreciation and neglect Of his productions
would seem to Indicate that he wrote them
merely for his own personal qualification
Joseph and his Brethren was written when
The author was but twenty-four years of age
and, though II received the most splendid en-
comums from Hazlitt and other critics Of the
highest repute. al Indifferent was the young
poet as 10 its fate that he threw II aside and
forgot IT, leaving II TO DO found and ropub-
lished only by fortultous accident Swim
burno and Iossetu found tho poem In tho
British Museum, whittier they we're directed
by some published notices of H. Upon their
proposing to publish II. the author. then n
very old man, insisted upon revising It. and
the poem was given him for that purpose.
Ho lost II, but. after u search, II was found
and he made tho revision, only to lose It
again. The second time bis wife. who was
more Interested In II than himself. found Il |
again and placed II IN the hands Of Rossetti. |
thus reseuipg II from destruction.
The story IL simply dramatic and poe.ieal |
elaboration Of the Scripture narrative Tho |
character Of the poem will appear from the |
extracts we republish. Tho frat remarkable
passage is picture Of Rachel. which, for
sensuous beauty and striking Imagery ~
well as in It's subtle rhythmic treatment. II
not surpassed by any Of the grand Old mas
ters:'
10 bere with tba same Rachel waa II found:
The dim blue laced veins on either brow,
Meath the trgnHuarent akin meandaring
That with tho eilvefy -leaved lily We'd;
Her full dark eyes whose brightness gistenod
through
Tho sabe hes soft ~ cnnel hair:
Her slanting head cnrv'd like tho maiden
moon
And hung with half lusurtent as d vine
And blacker than q storm her rounded orr
TurD'd like u she'll nnon some golden shore:
Her whspering foot that carried all her
Nor left liz little pressure on The sand:
Her Hos as drowsy poppias. colt and rcd,
Ga herring dew from her escaping breath.
Her voice melodoua. mellow. deep and clear
Lingering like sweet music In tho ear;
Her neck o'ersoftan'd like to unHunn'd curd
Her tapering flngors rounded to u point.
rho stk.n softusaR Of her ypined hand;
Her dimped kpuckles answering 10 her chin
And teeth like honeycombs o the Wilderness:
For armed thus IN beauty did shs steal
Tho eye of in ob to her proper self
Engross'd tis limo and kopt him by hor side,
CASTING on Leah indifference and Neglect.
Another remarkable passage of descriptive
verse Is the following exquisite and truthful
picture Of the Orient.
Yonder's storm Of dust what cattle. now
What herd men may there be 7 Strangers arc
md this fine perfume Tint doth greet us bath
fscap'd from apire and aromatic gums
Their precious freight from tales nfHr remote
THO herald OF their nrogreps. for II st,ll
fies on before, Lol from this bank sec
ywafthy Egyptians. yellow aB their gold.
Tracking their way along the mountain'a side {
Riding on mules: and like the d,eting cloud
while overhead round OF plated cane :
y held to intercept tho burning Run:
md the gray dogs. lolling their bleached !
VI Wink meath tho caravans. with travel Rriey'd.
Their eames all have bells about thoir necks
Waking merry music h they go.
slow footing meath n WI light Of packages I
rhat nicely ra sd, Ike IT, square towers show. I
The dromedarlee seem o sleep and walk.
RI
The following description of the conflict be- ]
wecn unholy passions and probity displays
'ange of power worthy OF Shakespeare him
elf.
Ihrarnnor.
Come bore. / say
)ome here.
Joseph.
What would YOU madam? attend
PhrdLGnor
Why, put your fingers on my burning brow Y
That YOU have stirrd into this duenehable heat |
md touch the mischief that your eye has
made
DO 1t. / say. or will raise the house.
Why. that Is well. Now will never say
sudden word to startle thee again
But use the Rentlest breath woman has
Aye. now you may remove your hand-yet '
stay
did not say withdraw t-you mistake
lou are too jealous of the wondrous toy; /
cave It with me and will give you mine:
hold II as a bird that do love
'et fear TO ose-Fie on that stewards ring
low should it slip. twill fall into my neck ,