by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)
By his evening fire the artist
Language: English
By his evening fire the artist Pondered o'er his secret shame; Baffled, weary, and disheartened, Still he mused, and dreamed of fame. 'T was an image of the Virgin That had tasked his utmost skill; But, alas! his fair ideal Vanished and escaped him still. From a distant Eastern island Had the precious wood been brought Day and night the anxious master At his toil untiring wrought; Till, discouraged and desponding, Sat he now in shadows deep, And the day's humiliation Found oblivion in sleep. Then a voice cried, "Rise, O master! From the burning brand of oak Shape the thought that stirs within thee!" And the startled artist woke,-- Woke, and from the smoking embers Seized and quenched the glowing wood; And therefrom he carved an image, And he saw that it was good. O thou sculptor, painter, poet! Take this lesson to thy heart: That is best which lieth nearest; Shape from that thy work of art.
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Text Authorship:
- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), "Gaspar Becerra", appears in The Seaside and the Fireside, first published 1850 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Wentworth Bennett , "The sculptor", published 1887. [voice and violoncello obbligato] [text not verified]
- by W. F. Bradshaw , "Gaspar Becerra", published 1882, cantata [text not verified]
- by Horatio Tuddenham , "Gaspar Becerra" [voice and piano] [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-10
Line count: 28
Word count: 159