The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Death of Saul and other Eisteddfod Prize Poems and Miscellaneous Verses, by J. C. Manning

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Title: The Death of Saul and other Eisteddfod Prize Poems and Miscellaneous Verses

Author: J. C. Manning

Release Date: March 15, 2007 [EBook #20764]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEATH OF SAUL AND OTHERS ***

Produced by Al Haines

THE DEATH OF SAUL:

AND OTHER

EISTEDDFOD PRIZE POEMS

AND

MISCELLANEOUS VERSES.

BY

J. C. MANNING

(CARL MORGANWG.

SWANSEA:

J. C. MANNING, 9, CASTLE STREET.

AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.

PRICE SIX SHILLINGS.

1877.

DEATH OF SAUL

AND

OTHER POEMS.

THE EISTEDDFOD COMMITTEE

AND THE

"DEATH OF SAUL."

Being restricted by the Wrexham Eisteddfod Committee to 200 lines, I was obliged to lop away from the bulk of the following poem just sufficient for their requirements. I have always declaimed, from a physical point of view, against the pernicious influence of light-lacing, and this being so, it was not likely I could go at once and mentally encase my delicate muse, for a permanency, in a straight waistcoat, at the behest of any committee in the world. What would she have thought of me? If, therefore, the committee, or any member of it, should by chance observe that the "Death of Saul," as I now produce it, is of a more comprehensive character than the "Death of Saul" for which they were good enough to award me the first prize, they will see the poem without the temporary stays in which I was necessitated to encase it in order to make it acceptable to them and their restrictive tastes. To squeeze a poem of nearly 400 lines into the dimensions of one of 200, is, in my opinion, an achievement worthy of a prize in itself; and as half of the original had a gold medal awarded to it, the whole of it, I should think, ought to be worth two. I trust Eisteddfod committees, when they contemplate putting the curb upon us poor poets, will think of the Wrexham National Eisteddfod, and how half the "Death of Saul" took a first prize.

TO THE PUBLIC.

  Let the bright sun of Approbation shine
  In warmth upon the humble rhymester's line,
  And, like the lark that flutters tow'rds the light,
  He spreads his pinions for a loftier flight.
  The chilling frowns of critics may retard,
  But cannot kill, the ardour of the Bard,
  For, gaining wisdom by experience taught,
  As grass grows strong from wounds by mowers wrought,
  Success will come the Poet's fears to assuage,
  Crowning his hopes with Poesy's perfect page.

PREFACE.

The verses which make up this volume have been written at intervals, and under the most varied and chequered circumstances, extending over a period of five-and-twenty years. If, therefore, they bear upon their surface variety of sentiment and incongruity of feeling, that fact will explain it. I am fully aware that some of the pieces are unequal in merit from a purely artistic point of view, but I have felt that my audience will be varied in its composition, and hence the introduction of variety. The tone, however, of the whole work, I believe to be healthy; and where honest maxims, combined with homely metaphor, are found to take the place of high constructive art, they will, I know, be excused by votaries of the latter, for the sake of those whose hearts and instincts are much more sensitive to homely appeals than to the charms of mere artistic effect. The pieces have all been written, together with many other effusions, at such leisure moments as have been accorded to one who, during the whole time of their composition, has had to apply himself, almost without cessation, to the performance of newspaper press duties; and those who know anything about such things need not be told that a taste for versification is, to a press-man, as a rule, what poverty is to most people—a very inconvenient and by no means a profitable companion. In my own case, however, the inconvenience has been a pleasure, and I have no reason to find fault as to profit. From the fitful excitement of journalistic duties I have turned to "making poetry," as Spenser defines the art, as a jaded spirit looks for rest, and have always felt refreshed after it. My only hope in connection with the poetry I have thus made is, that those who may incline to read what I have written will take as much pleasure in reading as I have taken in writing it, and that the result to myself will be a justification for having published the work, to be found only in that public appreciation which I hope to obtain,

SWANSEA.——J. C. MANNING.

CONTENTS.

  To the Public
  Preface
  Dedication
  The Wrexham Eisteddfod and the "Death of Saul"
  Historical Note
  DEATH OF SAUL
    Episode the First
    Episode the Second
    Episode the Third
    Episode the Fourth
  Palm Sunday in Wales
  Elegy on the late Crawshay Bailey, Esq.
  Nash Vaughan Edwardes Vaughan; a Monody
  Monody on the Death of Mrs. Nicholl Carne
  Elegiac Stanzas on the Death of Mrs. Grenfell
  In Dreams
  Mewn Cof Anwyl: on the Death of John Johnes, Esq., of Dolaucothy
  Elegiac
  In Memoriam
  To Clara
  E.H.R.
  A.R.
  Venus and Astery
  To a Royal Mourner
  Beautiful Wales
  Gwalia Deg
  The Welsh Language: to Caradawc, of Abergavenny
  Englyn i'r Iath Gymraeg
  A Foolish Bird
  I'd Choose to be a Nightingale: to Mary (Llandovery)
  True Philanthropy: to J. D. Llewellyn, Esq., Penllergare
  Disraeli
  Down in the Dark: the Ferndale Explosion
  DAISY MAY:—Part the First
              Part the Second
              Part the Third
  Lines, accompanying a Purse
  Forsaken
  Christmas is Coming
  Heart Links
  The Oak to the Ivy
  Epigram on a Welshwoman's Hat
  Shadows in the Fire
  The Belfry Old
  Beautiful Barbara
  Song of the Silken Shroud
  A University for Wales
  Griefs Untold
  I Will
  Dawn and Death
  Castles in the Air
  The Withered Rose
  Wrecks of Life
  Eleanor
  New Year's Bells
  The Vase and the Weed
  A Riddle
  To a Fly Burned by a Gaslight
  To a Friend
  Retribution
  The Three Graces
  The Last Rose of Summer
  The Starling and the Goose
  The Heroes of Alma
  A Kind Word, a Smile, or a Kiss
  Dear Mother, I'm Thinking of