登陆注册
5381700000003

第3章 A Brief Sketch of Lanier's Life(1842-1881)(2)

Despite continued ill-health, which now and again necessitated visits of months' duration to Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia, Lanier did a vast amount of work.He was engaged as first flute for the Peabody Symphony Concerts, a position that he filled with rare distinction for six years.As to his literary work, this began with the publication of his novel, `Tiger-lilies', in 1867, and in the same year, of occasional poems in `The Round Table' of New York.

`Corn', published in `Lippincott's Magazine' (Philadelphia)for February, 1875, is the first of his poems that attracted general notice, and the one that gained him the friendship of Bayard Taylor.

To Taylor he owed his selection to write the `Centennial Cantata', which gave him still greater notoriety, though, to be sure, some of it was not very grateful to him.In 1876 the Lippincotts published his `Florida', and in 1877 his first volume of `Poems', which contained ninety-four pages and consisted chiefly of pieces2previously published in the magazines.Soon after settling in Baltimore, Lanier made a careful study of Old and Middle English, the fruits of which he partially embodied in courses of lectures given to his private class and to the public, the latter at the Peabody Institute, in 1879.

During these years, too, he had been steadily turning out poems of high order.

On his birthday, February 3, in 1879, he received notice of his appointment as Lecturer on English Literature at the Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore for the ensuing scholastic year, with a fixed salary, the first since his marriage.In the summer of 1879 he wrote his `Science of English Verse', which constituted the basis of his first course of lectures at the Johns Hopkins University.Notwithstanding serious illness, this same winter, 1879-80, he lectured at three private schools and kept up his musical engagement at the Peabody Concerts.

The next winter, 1880-81, he came near dying, but still kept writing (`Sunrise' was written with a fever temperature of 104 Degrees)and went through his twelve lectures at the Hopkins, afterwards embodied in `The English Novel'.How trying this must have been to him can be gathered from the following words of Mr.Ward:

"A few of the earlier lectures he penned himself; the rest he was obliged to dictate to his wife.With the utmost care of himself, going in a closed carriage and sitting during his lecture, his strength was so exhausted that the struggle for breath in the carriage on his return seemed each time to threaten the end.

Those who heard him listened in a sort of fascinated terror, as in doubt whether the hoarded breath would suffice to the end of the hour."3After this a trip was made to New York to arrange for issuing some books for boys, and four were issued, two posthumously: `Boy's Froissart' (1878), `Boy's King Arthur' (1880), `Boy's Mabinogion' (1881), and `Boy's Percy' (1882).Another work, an account of North Carolina similar to that of Florida, was contracted for and was definitely planned, but, owing to aggravating infirmities, could not be completed.

1 Ward's `Memorial', p.xx.f.

2 They are named in the `Bibliography'.

3 Ward's `Memorial', p.xxviii.

For the end was near at hand.Desperate illness had made it necessary to seek relief near Asheville, N.C., where he was joined by Mrs.Lanier and by his father and step-mother.Growing no better, he was moved to Lynn, Polk County, N.C.Of the rest we shall hear in the words of his wife: "We are left alone (it is August 29, 1881)with one another.On the last night of the summer comes a change.

His love and immortal will hold off the destroyer of our summer yet one more week, until the forenoon of September 7th, and then falls the frost, and that unfaltering will renders its supreme submission to the will of God." Unusually checkered his life had been, and yet for Lanier as for Timrod poetry (and music) had "turned life's tasteless waters into wine, and flushed them through and through with purple tints."The body was taken to Mr.Lanier's home in Baltimore, thence to the Church of St.Michael and All Angels, where services were conducted by the rector, the Rev.Dr.William Kirkus.It was then buried in Greenmount Cemetery, in the lot of Mr.and Mrs.Lawrence Turnbull, two of the dearest friends that Mr.and Mrs.Lanier had in Baltimore.

Ward's `Memorial', p.xxx.

Timrod's `A Vision of Poesy', stanza xliv.

Mr.Lanier left a family consisting of his wife and four sons.

Mrs.Lanier, who lives at Tryon, N.C., was the inspiration not only of those glorious tributes, `Laus Mariae' and `My Springs', but also of the poet's whole life.The eldest son, Mr.Charles Day Lanier, was born at Macon, Ga., September 12, 1868, and was graduated A.B.

at the Johns Hopkins University in 1888.At one time he was Assistant Editor of `The Cosmopolitan Magazine', a position that he gave up only to become Business Manager of `The Review of Reviews', with which he has been connected from its beginning.

He is the author of several graceful sketches in the magazines.

The second son, Sidney, is passionately fond of music, and would have devoted himself thereto but for life-long ill-health.

同类推荐
  • 明伦汇编闺媛典闺媛总部

    明伦汇编闺媛典闺媛总部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重订产孕集

    重订产孕集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Joy

    Joy

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东归日记

    东归日记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 般若波罗蜜多心经(炖煌石室本)

    般若波罗蜜多心经(炖煌石室本)

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 客家文化与和谐广西

    客家文化与和谐广西

    徐天河,广西博自人,大学教授、文学博士、硕士研究生导师.先后就学于广西师范大学、广西大学、哈尔滨师范大学。世界华文文学研究会会员、中国古代文学研究会会员、全国《红楼梦》研究会会员、广西先进文化促进会会员、广西人文社会科学发展研究中心客家研究院研究员、广西教育科学学术委员会委员、广西高等学校教学成果奖评审委员会委员、广西高等学校职称评审委员会委员、广西玉林市客家海外联谊会常务副会长。
  • 影帝的女人是大佬

    影帝的女人是大佬

    某微博爆料:娱乐圈最年轻影帝和三流女星深夜拥吻网上顿时炸锅了“哪个不要脸的攀龙附凤?”“影帝是大家的,xx滚出娱乐圈。”就在大家义愤填膺时,三流女星突然掉马竟是明星最想攀附之人,某行业大佬,娱乐圈‘干爹’此书又名《影帝老公抱了金大腿,认了干爹,粉丝含泪送嫁》 【本书内容全是作者幻想,不影射任何现实娱乐圈的人和事,若有任何不符实情,敬请见谅!】
  • 夺心婚约:爱上逃婚少夫人

    夺心婚约:爱上逃婚少夫人

    在月黑风高的晚上,某女将黑道老大扑倒扒光,上下其手:“这又硬又丑的东西真奇怪,摸着还会长大。”“这不算什么,我还有更好玩的事儿,你要不试试看?”说着颜少翻身扑倒,强势吃干抹净。三年后少女回归,身边跟着绝版小天才:“妈咪,虽然大叔身软易扑倒,不过还是找年轻的高富帅吧,保证体力好没有代沟。”“臭小子,敢瞧不起你老爸。”某黑老大抓狂,为了印证他体力有多好,每晚不断上演扑倒扑倒狠狠扑倒的戏码。推荐叶希维新书《神秘老公强势宠:108次爱你》,很好看哦!
  • 宫

    “那年你对我说,人生最难的事情是‘坚持’,你还说,如果我有灵魄,就来到你身边,生为男子就助你夺天下,生为女子就成为你的妻。这一世,我是男子,帮你得到了安稳的天下,下一世,我要成为你的妻,和你比翼双飞……”
  • 嫡女惊华

    嫡女惊华

    身为莫家大小姐,却被姐妹杀害。一朝重生,逆风翻盘,只为报仇!只是这突然冒出的桃花,是咋回事?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 重生隐形富豪

    重生隐形富豪

    好不容易重生,改变自己的命运,改变家人的命运,那是必须的!可除了赚钱,还有更好玩儿的事:投资科研,别人老想往天上飞,可洛宁恐高,不如去开发海底世界如何?
  • 名媛重生娱乐圈

    名媛重生娱乐圈

    她是民国的上流名媛,留洋西欧,出身高贵。心脏病的原因而早逝,再次醒来却发现物是人非。一场重生,使她从纸醉金迷的民国名媛变成了孤儿,有了青春,美貌和演技,这辈子她的目标就是:称霸娱乐圈!从三流艺人到三栖天后,从一介孤女到总裁夫人,有了金手指,就是这么任性!
  • 穿越一世繁华

    穿越一世繁华

    穿越就穿越了,人家穿越之后都是在古色古香的房间里,她竟然掉进了四王爷的马车里,砸坏了人家的马车。没办法,赔吧!诶......今生与你的相遇牵手就预订了下意识与你的相知相守......
  • 异界之制定规则

    异界之制定规则

    一个小厨师意外穿越,却是来到了一个魔法斗气的世界,这里种族林立,强者无数,看我们的主角张傲炎如何在异界大陆一步一步的攀上巅峰,如何让世人匍匐在脚下颤抖。本书是一个少年,艰苦努力的奋斗为中心,讲述他一步步的超越前人的故事!(这是小烟的第一本书,我会认真写好它,同时也希望大家多多支持,小烟先行谢了!人品第一,每天五千字更新,虽然少了点,但永不断更!)
  • 寂灭星河

    寂灭星河

    宇宙争斗拉开帷幕,佣兵团团员林宇迎战浩瀚宇宙,逐渐揭开无垠地神秘面纱.在联邦和其他种族的夹缝中生存。是什么让他坚持了下来?爱情,亲情,友情,还有那成为强者磐石般的信念!