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Poem
April 18, 1829
New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register
Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Mrs. Hemans' poem 'Sadness and Mirth' personifies the two emotions as intertwined in human experiences—from ancient feasts and Roman triumphs to weddings, funerals, and poetry—contrasting earthly duality with a heavenly realm of pure joy.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
[From the London New Monthly Magazine.]
SADNESS AND MIRTH.
By MRS. Hemans.
Ye met at the stately feasts of old,
When the bright wine foam'd in sculptured gold,
Sadness and Mirth! ye were mingled there
With the sound of the lyre in the scented air;
As the cloud and the lightning are blent on high,
Ye mix'd in the gorgeous revelry.
For there hung o'er those banquets of yore a gloom,
A thought and the shadow of the tomb;
It gave to the flute-notes an under-tone,
To the rose a coloring not its own,
To the breath of the myrtle a mournful power—
Sadness and Mirth! ye had each your dower!
Ye met when the triumph swept proudly by,
With the Roman eagles through the sky!
I know that e'en then, in his hour of pride,
The soul of the mighty within him died,
That the void in his bosom lay darkly still,
Which the music of victory might never fill!
Thou wert there, O Mirth! swelling on the shout,
Till the temples like echo caves rang out;
Thine were the garlands, the songs, the wine,
All the rich voices in air were thine,
The incense, the sunshine—but, Sadness! thy part
Deepest of all, was the victor's heart!
Ye met at the bridal with flower and tear;
Strangely and wildly ye meet by the bier!
As the gleam from a sea-bird's white wing shed,
Crosses the storm in its path of dread,
As a dirge meets the breeze of a summer sky—
Sadness and Mirth! so ye come and fly!
Ye meet in the Poet's haunted breast—
Darkness and rainbow alike its guest!
When the breath of the violet is out in Spring,
When the woods with the wakening of music ring,
O'er his dreamy spirit your currents pass,
Like shadow and sunlight o'er mountain-grass.
When will your parting be, Sadness and Mirth?
Bright stream and dark one! Oh! never on earth!
Never while triumphs and tombs are so near,
While Death and Love walk the same dim sphere;
While flowers unfold where the storm may sweep,
While the heart of man is a soundless deep!
But there smiles a land, O ye troubled pair!
Where ye have no part in the summer-air,
Far from the breathings of changeful skies,
Over the seas and the grave it lies,
Where the day of the lightning and cloud is done,
And Joy reigns alone, as the lonely sun!
SADNESS AND MIRTH.
By MRS. Hemans.
Ye met at the stately feasts of old,
When the bright wine foam'd in sculptured gold,
Sadness and Mirth! ye were mingled there
With the sound of the lyre in the scented air;
As the cloud and the lightning are blent on high,
Ye mix'd in the gorgeous revelry.
For there hung o'er those banquets of yore a gloom,
A thought and the shadow of the tomb;
It gave to the flute-notes an under-tone,
To the rose a coloring not its own,
To the breath of the myrtle a mournful power—
Sadness and Mirth! ye had each your dower!
Ye met when the triumph swept proudly by,
With the Roman eagles through the sky!
I know that e'en then, in his hour of pride,
The soul of the mighty within him died,
That the void in his bosom lay darkly still,
Which the music of victory might never fill!
Thou wert there, O Mirth! swelling on the shout,
Till the temples like echo caves rang out;
Thine were the garlands, the songs, the wine,
All the rich voices in air were thine,
The incense, the sunshine—but, Sadness! thy part
Deepest of all, was the victor's heart!
Ye met at the bridal with flower and tear;
Strangely and wildly ye meet by the bier!
As the gleam from a sea-bird's white wing shed,
Crosses the storm in its path of dread,
As a dirge meets the breeze of a summer sky—
Sadness and Mirth! so ye come and fly!
Ye meet in the Poet's haunted breast—
Darkness and rainbow alike its guest!
When the breath of the violet is out in Spring,
When the woods with the wakening of music ring,
O'er his dreamy spirit your currents pass,
Like shadow and sunlight o'er mountain-grass.
When will your parting be, Sadness and Mirth?
Bright stream and dark one! Oh! never on earth!
Never while triumphs and tombs are so near,
While Death and Love walk the same dim sphere;
While flowers unfold where the storm may sweep,
While the heart of man is a soundless deep!
But there smiles a land, O ye troubled pair!
Where ye have no part in the summer-air,
Far from the breathings of changeful skies,
Over the seas and the grave it lies,
Where the day of the lightning and cloud is done,
And Joy reigns alone, as the lonely sun!
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Religious Faith
War Military
What keywords are associated?
Sadness
Mirth
Feasts
Triumphs
Bridal
Bier
Poet
Joy
Heaven
What entities or persons were involved?
By Mrs. Hemans.
Poem Details
Title
Sadness And Mirth.
Author
By Mrs. Hemans.
Key Lines
Ye Met At The Stately Feasts Of Old,
When The Bright Wine Foam'd In Sculptured Gold,
Sadness And Mirth! Ye Were Mingled There
With The Sound Of The Lyre In The Scented Air;
As The Cloud And The Lightning Are Blent On High,
Ye Mix'd In The Gorgeous Revelry.
But There Smiles A Land, O Ye Troubled Pair!
Where Ye Have No Part In The Summer Air,
Far From The Breathings Of Changeful Skies,
Over The Seas And The Grave It Lies,
Where The Day Of The Lightning And Cloud Is Done,
And Joy Reigns Alone, As The Lonely Sun!