Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-17
ARN0LD'S POEM.
RXTRACIS FROM HIS LATEST WORK "THE
LIGHT OF TIE WORLD
VIII az Introduction By Richard Heury Sioddaij
The Central Theme Is IssGs ChIist-A Splendid
Description u Mary Magdalens-Hs
Story u the Resurrection Morn.

Story 1.-the Resurrection Morn.
Advance sheets Of Edwin Arnold
The Light of the World have been
received by special arrangement with
the publishers, MesSrS. Funk ~ Wag-
nails, of New York. The poem is given
out for publication simultaneously in
this country and in Europe. The in
/ PRODUCTION TO the poem is written by
Richard Henry Stoddard, and in it he
| says:
THE Light OF Asia is now followed,
as many hoped il would be, by The
/ Light Of the World which, from the
| higher significance Of its subject, and
the greater feryor and reverence Of its
handling, comes more closely home TO
/ the bOSOmS of men. IL was much
10 have written The Light Of Asia,
but il is more, Infinitely more, To have
written The Light Of the World. OF
which every lover Of sacred song viii
say. when he has read IL: That strain
heard was of a higher mood.
IL is a work of over 5000 lines, the
central theme being Jesus Christ. Nh.
Arnuld's treatment Of his great theme
is marked by the utmost reverence, and
is certain 10 awaken the same emotion
in the breast of the reader. The poem
consists of six books, as follows: Book
l.. Mary Magdalene: Book H., the
MaguS; Book Ill, The AlabaSter Box;
Book ~, Gin two parts, The PARALLELS;
At Tyre; Book v, the Love of God and
Man; Book VI, the Great ConSumna
ton. Preceding the poem, which Is
written in blank verse, is sort OF in
troductory book entitled, AT Bethle-
HEM" which is written in rhymed
verse (Which is not, by the way, the
verse Ina which Mr.. Arnold does his best
work.
Book the First opens with descrip-
ton of the Sea of Galilee As ii was in
the days OF Christ.
The story opens with the description
Of Pontius PLATE, Claudia, his spouse,
and their attendants, EN- route to Rome:
They stop AT Magdala for the night, and
are directed for accommodations to the
house of Mary Magdalene. On his
Journey through Galilee the memory oil
Christ has haunted the Roman procu-
rator. and he seeks an interview with
ms hostess, which she grants. Then
follows a magnificent description OF the
woman, the following being extracts;
Rich the Jewish blood
Glow.d through the sun-burned ivory 81 her
face
Unveiled for misunderstanding show
OF color 90 the thiuned uncolored cheek.
But leaving pale as pearl lined ocean shell
/ 'rbe full white neck and where neck rose 10
breast
TIA. tender margin, of the bosom, bound
| nv silver bordered cymar. crossed;-and pale
/ A. moonlight, heart the low smooth forehead
Under the black waved HAIR; forehead and
And eyebrow, beut like the new moon; full
SIX lashes. long and curved, shadOwing with
touch
/ OF softest melancholy that worn place
| " here the tears gatner-all declaring her
[ A daughter OF the sun, in those climeS born
Wher, light and life are larger
Faircr. may be- as she stood there, serene,
I Than Ina those bygone days, the evil days
When t;alilee do n 20 It's utmost edge,
,,',e Il me south was loud with talk Of her
| Who walked in woven gold and wore h@
A oueep oil Sin-crowuing the shamele brow
I With diadem of tresses. tied with pearls
or Greek and Latin lovers.
Now. most meek
The proud. pale. Bonded face the folded pa ms
The knees touching the pavement as She saiu
The Roman Lord, who may command nat"
Sne,,B Mil Mil his servant She must needs obey
Hostess and subject. am Miriam
As Mary, at the request OF Plate
speaks of her Lord. PLATE finds the prick
ing Of his conscience uncomfortable ana
abruptly breaks of the interview:
But Pilate leaped .....,
Fierce from his place. with visase "hi'' auu
.C,u tb ,rIr' To- horse. he cried for will ride
To Sepphoris. before the sun Is hish,
If spur, can prick. one other watch spent
here
Among the audience who have been
listening 10 the words OF Mary Is an
Eastern slave belonging TO one OF the
magi who had paid tribute 10 the Infant
Jesus. and who has returned TO near,
before he dies, the story Of the LORD :
/ life. The next day he is given audi
ence by Mary. Before she begins TO
relate the story of Christ, Mary Magda-
lene considers it necessary to tell the
Maeus the story Of her own wicked ca
reer before seeing Christi
i,y.5 i'm an this land the boldest. worst,
1 Who braided up her hair the harlot way.
/ That Icauty Nature gave me abased'
I Saline IL with "A luVeleSs heart To win
/ Wealth and rich raiment. aud th" knees "'
oh ml ''u NV DAYS splendid aud sinful. Earth
Emntiad her stores 60 pleasure me- th'y
brought ,.,.
/ TO buy nm smiles. th-ir Tyriam purple webs
/ Th~iF mYrrhinr cups th'l SIMS '"'
p,,,.bu,a- and ,ari,s, shekel- sesterceS;
/ tnI slave. d. lam my sleep. and gilded chairs
IT, bear me TO IA" temple ana we led led
| that ann still and Sane to-day, nave ~ a.
/ Rrlels So mad thr shamed ''"''
over tl.ir argent faces. Chnuereth
| K,ru.d with our cres>ets and the water way
Ran 20 ats brink red WIN gu. So,',',i s,,rgeJ
And syria groaued and urrc" Sai''i''a sur
N,.I I,iJ mohs clamored round the palace
While l In these arms. Caesar drussed sa'rap-
pr...,.' md, ,nJ Pfoeurator. Nay hear all'
NJ t,tiuS only. no, nor Greeks alone;
Nor jew nor ldumrn,-ior my hSue
Ms golden iniamy. grew east ,"u ", 1,.r. and
Tiu Rome aud Athens heard anu i''' '"'
And SS 'g aud the Isles. aud Media,
| ~ ls-s than Magdal aud tiberias,
No h,-i-t ,'ith the laug. black. braided hair.
Who melted hearts iu Spiced p"m'sf'"'''
Than AIeyandrian queen more prodisal--,
And lauvhed their wealth To want an" WV
,-,.l.r t,r broiler,d sandals, aud took toll
| ne ,,,'.,,s and uear wasting ina one wiz nout
Ti.e TEMPLES wealth. Tin like that roS'-i''e'
of Memphis. had reared 81 pyramid .., .,
Mn bnf one block from each WHO ia"neu ~
Sir such was. that play Thy hostess mere j.,
Min these white shards, which >'''u NV -
MI 5 s apd erase thou show, If thy will b
Now to depart, hearing 'h'Ss
Thou sRa halt have praise, not blame from MIR
lam
The following describes Mary Masua
lene's first view OF Christ
That was ihc day We rode
In from Sehaste toward Iiberlas' .,,,,,1
AMI ON my wrist "a damuing splash VI 2n'I
Ir.,, throat of one my angry lover stao"'"
a, ,.ii toast Ina the uaduess oil ihr VIM
re- tb.ra AL Kenna. mid my thlcSest sluS'
NJ ,,,t,,.r,il, With murder. tnMarull
TI.i. A., ~ hearts core with Wild wlcN.un'SN
n,,.it Inn bv All IN. seven dark deNli' OF u'"'
10, an, lord oh. first SAW my l.'I" ,,
NnI ,lr I heard His voice. Was o"' W. ""'
Steward TO Herod FOR my REVIEWERS M, thor.
Were men Of AntipGSl who s'aNeu NJ"
Bent Tor Capernaum rom N inh
prayinc swift succor Tor chliu' IL, h.I,
.'f 'ue f.rsentlv. While We made hat
=. ~ u.. -. t.nd.rl, the Ma ter turned
| With look inehable, auu -""''
I