The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-31

CLYTIE AND ZENOBIA; or the Lily and
the Palm,' is the third of Mrs. Mary
Bayard Clark's poetical works. 1t is a
volume of sixty-five pages and was
published by E. p. Dutton & Co., of New
York in 1871. 1t contains a thrilling
story in the background and embodies
a rich cluster of lofty poetic thoughts.
The scene is laid in ancient Palroyra-
can island in a sea of sand"-during the
days of King Odenatus, who, with his
wife Zenobia, won many victories and
established the kingdom more and more
firmly end widely.
The story opens with a recital of events
occurring in the Temple of the Sun on
New Year morning. The anxious priests
arc watching the suns appearance as the
forecast for the year. When, at last, he
appca:s above the eastern horizon there
are unfavorable portents which meme can
interpret: though shining clearly at first,
he was soon obscured by a cloud freighted
with thunder and lightning; but after a
time, the sun shone forth again and a
beautiful rainbow was set in the reeeding
cloud. No one could interpret the mean
ing; yet all felt that the kingdom was
to pass through a shadow before the year
had worn away.
Upon the throne sat one os tie best
kings and one of the loveliest of queens.
In both there was happy combination
OF Love and Ambition, and upon these
traits in woman and in man the author
dwells with fine discrimination:
Ambition is a fearful dover
When woman may not own its power,
Though burning with intense desire
TO feed, not quench its latent fire;
Conscious of power to make q name,
Yet lacking strength to conquer fame;
Tied down by petty cares which bind
The body fast, yet leave the mind
To fret and struggle in despair
With greater ills which it must bear;
When love though pure and unalloyed,
Still leaves an intellectual void,-
A void its sweetness does not fill,
A longing want it cannot still.
Too often by the struggle torn,
BY many an inward conflict worn,
A prey to doubt, the sport of fears,
The pearl of health dissolved in tears,
Too proud to yield, too weak to, fight,
She longs at noontide for the night.
Love is but of mans life part,
1t does not fill both head and heart;
It's myrtles he would Irvine with bay,
And mid its roses laurels lay.
At intervals, famed by its breeze,
He lies at rest in Capuan ease.
Then cheered and strengthened for the
strife.
Enters the battle field of life.
And there are women, who. like men.
Need something more than love, and
when
1t is not of their life the whole,
And does not fill head. heart. and soul,
Leaving no wish that is denied.
No longing want ungratified,
Laurels and bays they too would twine,-
Not idly sit and hopeless pine.
Though love is sweet, the dangers great
When eagles stoop with doves to mate;
They needs must soar to be content,
And if within a dove-cote pent,
Fen of their love they may grow weary,
And sigh for freedom and an aerie.
But she who's mated with her kind,
Who in her highest flights will find
Just Ger her head her king-bird rise,
Glorying in every flight she tries,
And urging her to fields still higher,
May feed with love ambitions fire,
Yet make of home a peaceful nest,
With all loves soft emotions blest.
One day Zenobia accompanies her hus-
band with his companions and attend
ants on a tiger hunt AS she dashes
through the forest with her powerful
steed, under complete control, she ex-
hibits a queenly instinct which outshines
all the luxurious ease of court-life.
In woman's heart there ever lies
A queenly instinct, which will rise
At times, however trodden down,
And claim it's right to wear crown;
Then, for moment. she will feel
Her springy muscles turn to steel,
And boldly do, or bravely bear
All, all, that man himself may dare.
1t will not stay but while it lasts,
New beauty DER her face it casts;
Her head is reared with conscious pride.
Her bosom heaves beneath the tide
OF Weakened feeling in it pent,
And longs to give its passion vent.
And never does this instinct rise
To flash more brightly from her eyes
Than when she feels her slender hand
Can in his might her steed command,
That It's her will alone that guides
The noble creature which she rides:
Then, over every fear supreme,
BY Natures hand she's crowned a queen.
At last the chase is concluded and the
hunters close round the wearied tiger.
In desperation he leaps at Zenobia, but
she repels him with a wound. Just now
the King appears and is on the point Of
finging his lance into the beast, when
the Kings nephew, Maeonius, insolently
took away the Kings stroke by hurting
his javelin first. 1t was a breach of the
huntsman's etiquette and must be pun
ished by banishing the offender from the
chase, loss of weapons and steed, and
confinement at court. Thus the edge of
the shadow came on.
week passes We are given glimpse
of the royal court at the conclusion of
the moving sport and before great en-
tertainment at Palmyra in the evening
A Grecian girl, Clytie appears and sings
before the King and Queen to their great
delight. The King rewards her with a
sapphire ring; the Queen says: "I'll let
her have her womans will
Choose Zenobia's gift" At once she asks
her to intercede with the King for the
freedom and restoration to favor of her
lover, Maeonius. After she sings another