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Literary
July 22, 1824
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A poetic dialogue between a swan, symbolizing serene, innocent life on water, and an eagle, embodying majestic, stormy existence above realms, culminating in the swan's acceptance of death. Paraphrased from Schlegel's work.
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POETRY
From the London Literary Gazette.
THE SWAN AND THE EAGLE.
[We are indebted for this Paraphrase rather than Translation from Schlegel's Poem of "The Melodies of Life," to the author of "The Beauties, Harmonies and Sublimities of Nature."
SWAN.
My life is on the waters past!
From ruthless rage and ruin free,
I glide upon the azure waste,
In silence and security:
While the clear wave, unmoved by storm
Reflects my chaste and snowy form.
EAGLE.
My mansion is the mountain hoar;
Too high for man;—too steep for flock;
Where lightnings flash, and thunders roar,
From cloud to cloud, from rock to rock;
While, as the aerial battles ring,
I arm my beak, and poise my wing.
SWAN.
When morning opes the coral sky,
I wake;—and quit my secret home:
A thousand flowers delight mine eye,
In leaf, in cup, in bud, in bloom.
But when the purple Sun has set.
My wing conceals my beak of jet.
EAGLE.
When the midnight tempests blow.
With deadly shriek and ominous cry;
I ask the winds, I ask the snow,
If ruin be their ecstasy
And, shielded by the o'erhanging shade,
I gaze upon the ruin made.
SWAN.
Apollo sings!—He calls me oft
To listen to his sacred song;—
Flowing in numbers wild and soft,
I witness, as they glide along.
How much they captivate the gale.
Which bears them up the woody vale.
EAGLE.
I soar amid the heavens above,
When Kings bewray, or Realms revolt
And, sitting on the Throne of Jove,
Present the angry thunderbolt:
And, as I sleep, my wings traverse
The Sceptre of the Universe.
SWAN.
When the Moon has pierc'd the gloom,
And midnight's shadowy mantle rent;
As its mild rays the scene illume,
I gaze the watery firmament;
And muse upon the time, when I
Shall wake beyond the starry sky.
EAGLE.
E'en from my infant unfledg'd day.
My eyes, undazzled by the Sun,
Have borne his fierce meridian ray:
Which none beside on earth has done.
I scorn this Earth,—by Mortals trod!-
My mansion is the Throne of God.
SWAN.
An innocent, sequestered life,
Yields calmly to the shaft of Death!
When it shall come,—all red and rife,
To give me back my tuneful breath;
My voice shall try its utmost power,
To celebrate the sacred hour.
From the London Literary Gazette.
THE SWAN AND THE EAGLE.
[We are indebted for this Paraphrase rather than Translation from Schlegel's Poem of "The Melodies of Life," to the author of "The Beauties, Harmonies and Sublimities of Nature."
SWAN.
My life is on the waters past!
From ruthless rage and ruin free,
I glide upon the azure waste,
In silence and security:
While the clear wave, unmoved by storm
Reflects my chaste and snowy form.
EAGLE.
My mansion is the mountain hoar;
Too high for man;—too steep for flock;
Where lightnings flash, and thunders roar,
From cloud to cloud, from rock to rock;
While, as the aerial battles ring,
I arm my beak, and poise my wing.
SWAN.
When morning opes the coral sky,
I wake;—and quit my secret home:
A thousand flowers delight mine eye,
In leaf, in cup, in bud, in bloom.
But when the purple Sun has set.
My wing conceals my beak of jet.
EAGLE.
When the midnight tempests blow.
With deadly shriek and ominous cry;
I ask the winds, I ask the snow,
If ruin be their ecstasy
And, shielded by the o'erhanging shade,
I gaze upon the ruin made.
SWAN.
Apollo sings!—He calls me oft
To listen to his sacred song;—
Flowing in numbers wild and soft,
I witness, as they glide along.
How much they captivate the gale.
Which bears them up the woody vale.
EAGLE.
I soar amid the heavens above,
When Kings bewray, or Realms revolt
And, sitting on the Throne of Jove,
Present the angry thunderbolt:
And, as I sleep, my wings traverse
The Sceptre of the Universe.
SWAN.
When the Moon has pierc'd the gloom,
And midnight's shadowy mantle rent;
As its mild rays the scene illume,
I gaze the watery firmament;
And muse upon the time, when I
Shall wake beyond the starry sky.
EAGLE.
E'en from my infant unfledg'd day.
My eyes, undazzled by the Sun,
Have borne his fierce meridian ray:
Which none beside on earth has done.
I scorn this Earth,—by Mortals trod!-
My mansion is the Throne of God.
SWAN.
An innocent, sequestered life,
Yields calmly to the shaft of Death!
When it shall come,—all red and rife,
To give me back my tuneful breath;
My voice shall try its utmost power,
To celebrate the sacred hour.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Dialogue
Allegory
What themes does it cover?
Nature
Death Mortality
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Swan Eagle
Dialogue Poem
Nature Contrast
Mortality
Innocent Life
What entities or persons were involved?
Paraphrase By The Author Of "The Beauties, Harmonies And Sublimities Of Nature." From Schlegel's Poem Of "The Melodies Of Life."
Literary Details
Title
The Swan And The Eagle.
Author
Paraphrase By The Author Of "The Beauties, Harmonies And Sublimities Of Nature." From Schlegel's Poem Of "The Melodies Of Life."
Key Lines
My Life Is On The Waters Past!
From Ruthless Rage And Ruin Free,
I Glide Upon The Azure Waste,
In Silence And Security:
While The Clear Wave, Unmoved By Storm
Reflects My Chaste And Snowy Form.
My Mansion Is The Mountain Hoar;
Too High For Man;—Too Steep For Flock;
Where Lightnings Flash, And Thunders Roar,
From Cloud To Cloud, From Rock To Rock;
While, As The Aerial Battles Ring,
I Arm My Beak, And Poise My Wing.
An Innocent, Sequestered Life,
Yields Calmly To The Shaft Of Death!
When It Shall Come,—All Red And Rife,
To Give Me Back My Tuneful Breath;
My Voice Shall Try Its Utmost Power,
To Celebrate The Sacred Hour.