St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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POPEKS' MESSIAH 1 67 The intrinsic value of the poem, its poetic worth, may be judged by the essentials of the pastoral poem. In con- templating the innocence, quiet and candor of the Mes- siah, the emotions aroused are of the 'gentler kind. As Pope directly introduces no characters, we need not dis- cuss the pastoral characteristics. Though his subject bears not immediately on the peace and cares of rural life, it is surely one of supreme joy and happiness. His sweet and gentle style leaves nothing to be desired. His fig- ures, drawn from the daily scenes of the countryside, are well nigh' peerless. Rev. Eugene H. Brady, S. I., con- siders Pope's Messiah the most beautiful of Pope's trans- lations and the grandest pastoral poem in the English language. ' The Messiah ! How fitting to be made the subject of ag pastoral poem. A pastoral, we are told, is an imitation of a shepherd, or of one considered under that character. As' Christ is often referred to as the Good Shepherdjf and so many traits and characteristics of the shepherd 'Hare symbolically ascribed to Him, surely the pastoral lends itself perfectly to the praise and glory of the Nativity, long years ago proclaimed by the angels to the lowly, shepherds as they tended their flocks on the hills of Bethlehem. FRED B. BUTLER. .4 U-'fare ' ji- 'f D EW .ti- x1Hj1f?il fir

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66 IGNATIAN In the first, we find that Pope is but the imitator or trans- lator of Virgil 5 in the second, we admire his poetical transla- tions of the Scriptures, and thirdly, the modern poet, re- lying not upon inspirations drawn from common sources, gives full play to his own poetical fancies. In all three phases Pope has succeeded admirably. In his apt selec- tion of such passages from the Scriptures as would beau- tify his poem, Pope shows himself a master. The flour- ishing of Christ's kingdom, the secure and happy path to salvation He has pointed out to us, lend themselves readily to pastoral figures, comparing favorably with the peace and happiness of rural life. And what beautiful translations of Scriptural verses Pope has given us! Isaias says: Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstoppedf' Pope expresses the same thought thus: H The Savior comes! by ancient bards foretold! Hear Him ye deaf, and all ye blind behold! He from thick films shall purge the visual ray, And on the sightless eyeball pour the dayg 'Tis He th' obstructed paths of sound shall clear, And bid new music charm th' unfolding ear. The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego. And leap exulting like the bounding roe. In beautiful and majestic language that flows from Pope's own pen, at the close of the poem, all nature is commanded to bowdown in reverence before the Savior. And God's glory shall be supreme. He is addressing Israel: No more the rising sun shall gild the morn, Nor evening Cynthia fill her silver horn, But lost, dissolved in thy superior rays, One tide of glory, one unclouded blaze O'erflow thy courts .... The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay, Rocks fall to dust and mountains melt away, But fixed His word, His saving power remains 3- Thy realm forever lasts, thy own Messiah reigns.

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ll N 411 Un a fllllaterialint S THIS your final word,-that men are naught But Nature's. accidents,-that we exist Because by blind and freakish chance Some chemicals in contact close are brought, Of which the mixtures known as men consist? Perchance some lucky wind blows north a base And east a salt, and then some planless plan Brings salt and base together, making man! Can rocks, those senseless things, give precious life? Can splashing streams that furrow cliff and wood, Give honor, hatred, love, deceit or truth? Can peaceful meadows offer war or strife To man when he is made, or can his good f Proceed from metals valuable or base? Or evil blossom from the flowers sweet, That cloaking fields form carpets 'neath our feet? Whence come those men whose fame shall never part,- Whose names and deeds outlived each strong rebuff Of life? Whence Caesar? Pompey? Can these men Gr their ambitions from a test-tube start? They say ambition's made of sterner stuff, And well they say, for who has ever heard Of chemical,-of acid,-metal,-stone, Into ambition, restless passion, blown?