The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-15

The Light Of Asia is now followed, as
many hoped it would be, by The Light Of
the World. which, from the higher signif-
cance Of its subject. and the greater fervor
and reverence Of its handling, comes more
closely home TO the bosoms Of men.
II was much TO have written The Light Of
Asia but it is more, infinitely more, TO have
written The Light Of the World of which
every lover Of sacred song will say, when he
has finished it: That strain heard was OF a
h.rher.m0od.'
So writes Richard Henry Stoddard in his
Introduction TO Edwin Arnold's new poem,
published February 10th.
N is a work Of over 5000 lines, the central
,lome being Jesus Christ. Mr.. Arnold's treat
Int az his great theme is marked by the ut
most reverence, and is certain to awaken the
s,me emotion in the breast of the reader.
INC poem consists Of six books as follows:
ROCK t. Mary Magdalene; Book H.. The
W.,,s. Rock Ill The Alabaster Box; Book
~ gn two partsl. The Parallels At Tyre;
Rook Y The Love of God and Man; Book
VI The Great Consummauon. Preceding
the poem. which Is written IN blank verse, IS
a sort of Introductory book entitled. Az
Bethlehem which is written IN rhyIned verse
(Which is not. 10y the way. the verse III when
Mr. Arnold does his best work..
RI tho First opens with q description Of
tha Sea of Galilee rs it was in the days of
Christ:
Now oil is changed--all save the changeless
Tlcm01ntains. and the waters, and the sky
Tlose. as He saw them, have their glory yet
Az Sunrise, and at sunset; and when noon
prrn. tine blue Yaut into cope Of gold.
and of.timcs. IN the Syrian Spring. steals back
WaInrrh the ancient beauty 80 those coasts
Whcr. hrists feet trod. That lily which He
AMI PRAISED for spcndor passing Solomons-
lle scarlet martagon-dccks herself still,
Mindful Of His high words, IN red and gold
d. meet the step OF summer. Cyclamens
I.ff their pale heads 10 see If He VIII pass;
Aud Amarylhs and white hyacinths
Pour from their poarly vases splkcnard fortn'
Lest He should come unhOnored. In ms paths
STILL as of old. the lowiy crOcus spreads
A golden carpet for Him; and the BIRDS
Small almoners Of Heaven-as once ne SAID
Who fall not unregarded-trlll Their hymns
OF lively love and thanks N every thorn
Only what Man could do, Man hath well done
liz BLOT with blood and tears His track divine,
To sweep His holy footsteps from MS earth'
I'm steel and gold, splendid, and strong ana
Host after host under that Mount has marched
Where he safe, saying: Blessed be the peace
I'm rage and hatred. host with host has clashed
There where He taught Love We your enc
Banners which bore His cross have Knocked His
cross, ~
Scattering His land with slain; till now. at last,
Truly the sword. not peace, is what lie Drought!
For love of Him nation hates nauon so
That al His shrine the watchtu lslamite
Guards Christian thrOats! Dead lie HIS once falr
Barren The fallows whore His sower sowed;
None reaps the silver harvests of Ills sea;
None in the wheat row roots the I'll iares out
The hungry land gasps empty IN the glare; -
The vuitures self goes tamished; the VOL
Fasting. amid the broken stones which built
The cities of His sOjOurn. Wild birds nest
Where rcvels once were lOudcst. All are gone
Save for those names never 10 pass away,
Capemaum. Bethsaida Magdala.-
The nine white towns that safe beside His Lake.
Vanished the stately stoas lofty fares;
Vanished the walls the towers, the citadels
Titus and Omar wrought fair Palestine
No hurt like His who gave her halowcd ground
The fatal bcncdlctlOn OF Ills feet.
Loves house is desolate for love of Love.
The waters glass no sail; the ways have shrunk
Into acamel path; the centuries
Where the fox Uttered in the grapes, Ask not
Which was His city mid this ruined life!
None surely knowcth Of Capernaum -
Whether twas here, or there. Ierchance lie
Longest and latest at this nameless mound
Where on the broken column. nests the stork;
Whore knot-grass with its spikes, and bitter
OF trailing colocynth. and nebbuk, thorns
Bind as they will the marble wreck, and weave
SO still. so faraWay, so quite forsook
Hi- cltys burial place, the painted grouse
Law, her eggs there IN carved acanthus-leaves
And crickcts chirp where Caesars year Is Wit!
lug Arab. with the matchbox and the spear,
Gnncing askance-for Afreets haunt th @ spot,
Murmur,. Peace be to You! this is Iell-Hlm!
nesolate most of all, with one stared palm
And huddle of sad squahd novels, thou
L-Neidcl. burned a-dry beneath black crags;
The story proper opens with the description
u Pontius Plate, Claudia his spouse, and
q N a Rome
gUpat Magdala for the night, and are direct
3D. for accommodations, 10 the house of Mary
Nledalcue. On his journey through Galilee
temcmorv Of Christ has haunted the Roman
U0euator and he seeks an interview with ms
hostess. which she grants.
Thus met
She who most loved Him, he who rendered Him
oleafh.-pontius and Mary. For, anon.
Ih0 bar slides backward Of the Woman's Court
All. 900 tAc stairway of the leeMan, stood
.l. fal and proud. and fair; albeit past grief
Aaidmmed the lustrc of those large dark eyes
hn'upon Plate. Rich the Jewish blood
Opwel through the sun-burnt ivory OF her
Unveiled for misunderstanding show
Ni Dll0r tH M. thinncd. uncOlOred cheek,
LiiaNrt pale as pearl-llned ocean shell
IAr ial nliie neck, and where neck rose to
Ihe tender margins Of the bosom. bound
~ ,lNsr-hordered, cymar, crossed;-and pale
as ~oonhshts heart the low smooth forehead
ln'rih black waved hair; forehead and hair;
hA roWs bent like the now moon; fuil ms;
FLA h.h., long and curved, shadowing with
~ >',c,' melancholy that worn place
'N.rr the tears gather-all declaring her
4 alsifer of the sun. in those climes born
\, o. lirht and life are larger. An ana marked
n stamp of those strong passions OF the bast,
'-eig hot more Nature has her pangs ana
OH ihroes.
llanmau. graded upon her burning breast
.Ai'r aui quick. There are the dawns OF love
.t.ll.iuE hearts with instant golden glow
4h. Morning ln the desert; there Loves Moons
assuming. all-rcyealing, shadowless'
yam ltrF ieryor draining young hearts dfy
q" midday drinks the streams; and there Love :
fn.'i .iuh 'ng from the fierce fit TO the lnll Ell,
'i.- snn-blaze. by brief dusk to Tranquil
All ,atshed, still Night. Earthquakes and
".A.rug smoons, and winds that tear the
OBJ seas
4.hy madness. find their countorpartS
pose own children of the Light who i've
49', and hate with pulse at quicker beat
'--- h'afi-siorms gone on that hish eoul'e-
ID nance
lit VIII their passage, but not left her marred.
-.A'r. lAe some majestic Mount she showed
r. la'hay or Japan. whose lofty bulk
a.. once. all lame: which broke It's Douhua-
rcs.
fli-,on and red and furious-scatter round
'il and laya-slime. and barren ash,
iing What lay below. Then came me hush'