St Angela Hall Academy - Veritas Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

Page 70 text:

irgil Describes a term at ea N I-HS masterpiece The Aeneicl, Virgil rivals Nordofl and Hall in his realistic pictures of the storm perpetrated by Juno in her mad rage against the Trojans. Aeolus, the god of winds, defying Neptune, lets out the winds Notus, Eurus, and Afrieus, to stir up the sea and ravage the torn fleet of the exiled Trojans. Virgil thus depicts the horrible work of the winds: HAnd saying thus he struck against the rock, The hollow mountains where the winds were heldg And just as when a battle line is drawn The mighty winds rush forth in fierce array. By frequent blasts, they overturn the sea: Fierce Africus, and stormy Eurus too, And Notus, roll vast billows toward the shore. Creaking of rigging joined with cries of men Are swallowed in the torrent of the stormfl ln these lines, translated by Mary Jo Freese, Virgil recounts vividly how 'the- winds scattered the ships and tossed them upon the rocks. In stirring verse he suggests the chilling fear which overtook the Trojans, and inspired Aeneas? prayer to the spirits: HThe Hash of the lightning and thunder Tore from the realms of the heavens, Threatening death to the heroes And chilling the limbs of Aeneas. Groaning he turns his face starward And pleads with the spirits of Hades: 'O ye who are thrice four times blessed, Allowed to meet death in its glory, Beneath the tall towers of Troia, Your ancestors watching as witness- O Tydides, bravest of Grecians, Who fought with the King Menelaus Why could not my spirit have fallen 9777 ln death by thy terrible power These lines, translated by Mary Jo Fieese, are particularly interesting because they show that the ancient heroes, far from being ashamed to express emotion, often- gave way to crying and groaning. -..sj.l6Qj.EaU.-

Page 69 text:

The Poetry of Catholicism HE gift of poetic genius, deeply imbedded in a few chosen mortals. is a boon for which humanity, on hended knees, should fervently thank its God. The ability to turn the worldly eyes of men toward beauty and truth, and the ability to lift worldly hearts nearer to the Infinite, is indeed a rare accomplishment. How much rarer, then, is the power to carry these things to the level of worldly eyes, to the depths of worldly hearts, not for a moment alone, but for the space of a deep and a lasting impression! There are few poets who can hare all the mystical beauty of the Catholic Church to the mind and heart with the idealism and sincerity of the German poet, Gertrude von Le Fort. ln Hymns of the Church, her inspiration is the Mystical Body of Christ Hseen as no poet has seen it for centuries, with all its mystery and magnificence and terrorf' Her poetry is powerful in its simplicity, simple in its power. Of the Church she writes: For a space of a silence I would lay my head on your knees. For a space of a hope I would rest in your arms. But you are no wayside inn., and your doors do not open outwards. He who lets go of you has never known you. Gertrude von Le Fort should appeal to men and Women in every walk of life, of every temperament, of every outlook. For each, her poetry about the grandeur of the Church has a separate message. The rebellious she advises: c:Where my feet refuse to take me, there will I kneel down. And where my hands fail me, there will I fold them. The worldly she admonishes wisely: For the nearness of men is like flowers withering on grass, and all comfort is like a voice from without. For t'he proud she has a word of caution: Kings must sleep and mighty men must lie down like little children. lt is true beauty of soul and mind and emotion that' makes the world a lit place to live in, and its occupants worthy associates. Poetry is one of the great sources of beauty in the world, and the life of men when void of the poetry of the spirit is dark and commonplace. ln Hymns to the Church, Gertrude von Le Fort voices that poetry of the spirit. How true are the words which she puts in the mouth of Mother Church: I HI will sing a Gloria that shall jill the top of my towers with the clangour of their bells. Praise the Lord all sorrow of the earth! MARY SCHMUCK, 542. stsglggtp..-

Page 71 text:

Helene Yermylen contributes the next metrical translation, a passage toward the end in which Virgil tells of the just anger of Neptune when he learns of the awful treachery of his sister, and the wreck of the Trojan fleet: 'hwhen Neptune saw the sea convulsed with waves, Billows let loose and poured from out the deep, And monstrous winds that churned the frenzied flood, With jealous ire and rage he was aroused. Then on the troubled sea he spied the fieet, Half wrecked and shattered by the tempest wild, And saw Aeneas and his Trojan crew Sorely beset by downfall of the sky. But Juno's wiles and passions hid not well, And Neptune knew to whom he owed this plight. Thus Virgil in the first book of The Aeneid presents one of the immortal pass- ages in literature, his description of a storm at sea. JOAN GOUBEAUD, 'Ll-1. TRIOLET I wish I were a flafoflil, Dainty, tall and yellow, Swaying on a grassy hill- I wish I were a daffodil- Or alancing by an olfl Dutch mill Beneath a moon so mellow. I wish I were a clajffoclil Dainty, tall and yellow! MARGARET JOKIEL, 741 SURETY I think that I will never feel A greater thrill than just to kneel, Before a statue of my King In whose clear praise I often sing. I know that I will never see A greater King, O Lord, than Thee, The One to whom all children flock The God who at my heart doth knock. MARY CROWLEY. THE LILACS The lilacs are sweet Upon the green lawn As they lift their small heacls To the sunbs rays at clawn. They smile all flay long In Goflls heavenly light, Anfl when the sun goes to rest They too say goodnight! MARY Rosa MCCARTHY. TO THE SENIORS Farewell we say to you toclay, And Goa' be with you on your way. Round the worlfl where e'er you go Every grace may He bestow. We wish you every happinessg Each of you may fesus bless. Let his teachings be your guide Leacling always to His sirlef ANNE DANNEMILLER, 'LL3. sgwgtga..-