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"SORROW'S .COW.I OF
SORROW."
To the Editor
Sir,-Your correspondent, "A Sub..
scriber," does not quote quite correctly.
It is not "Sorrow's crown of sorrows,"
but "Sorrow's crown of sorrow." The
line is from Tennyson's "Lockaley
Hall"
"This.is truth the poet amgp,
That a sorrow's crown of sorrow is
remembering happier things."
The reference is to Dnteo, and the
words are a translation of others which,
as a writer has said, "have burnt them
selves into the soul of humanity for all
ages." It is Francesca who is telling
Dante, in Hell, in answer to his.inquiry
what brought her to that "dolorous
pass," when he saw her spirit and that
of her lover, Paolo, together, "blown
forever weeping on the winds." She
then explains to him how to use Long
fellow's translation
"There is no greater sorrow
Than to be mindful of the happy time
In misery.'
"Ed ella a me,
Neemun maggior dolee,
Che. riccrdarsi del tempo felice nella
miseria."
Virgil puts almost the same words into
Dido's mouth, while Wordsworth`, has
paraphrased it for his own use:
"So?s remembered without wish r
aSarpen the keenst edge of pueeezt
And once more Tennyson gives voice to
the same idea: "Oh death in life the
days that'are no more:"-Yours, etc.,
INFERNO.
Perth, September 27.
STo the Idite.
Sir,-The couplet. "A SBnbec r"
asks for in this morning's paper is from
Tennyson's "Locksley Hall"
"ComfortP Comfort scorn'd of devils!
This is truth the poet sings,
That a sorrow's crown of sorrow is
remembering happier thin ."
--ours, etc.,
N.V. ..
berth, September 27.
- To the Editor.
Sir,-In response to "Subscriber'e"
qunery beg to supply the wished-for
"ComfortP Comfort scorn'd of devils!
This is truth the poet sings,
That a sorrow's crown of sorrow is
remembering happier things."
The stanza is from "Locksley Hall," by
Teninyson.
May I ask if any of your numerous
readers could inform me of the author
of the poem (not the book), "Ships that
Pass in the Night.'-Yours, etc.,
South Perth, September 27.
[Several other correspondents furnish
the answer to "Subscriber's" inquiry.
Ed.]
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