The Angel of Thought and Other Poems Impressions from Old Masters   By: Ethel Allen Murphy

THE ANGEL OF THOUGHT and Other Poems

Impressions from Old Masters

ETHEL ALLEN MURPHY

BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER The Gorham Press 1909

Copyright 1908, by Ethel Allen Murphy All Rights Reserved The Gorham Press, Boston, U.S.A.

TO MY FRIEND AND TEACHER ANNA J. HAMILTON

The writer wishes to express her gratitude to the Art Department of the Indiana University, whose kindness in lending the pictures which suggested the verses, and whose mission in opening some of their meanings to her spirit, have helped to make possible this little book.

CONTENTS

The Angel of Thought 13 ( Suggested by a Fra Angelico Angel. )

Annunciation Sonnet I 15

Annunciation Sonnet II 17 ( From the picture by Botticelli. )

The Visitation 19 ( From the picture in Dürer's series on "The Life of the Virgin" )

A Botticelli Madonna.

I. The Wondering Angels 21 ( From the Madonna of the Magnificat. )

II. The Mournful Mother 23 ( From the Madonna of the Pomegranate. )

III. The Loving Christ 25 ( From the Madonna of the Rose Garden. )

The Angel of the Jasmine Wreath 27 ( From Botticelli's painting, in the Borghese Gallery, of the Madonna and Child with Angels. )

A Prayer for the Followers of Ideal Beauty 29 ( With a pencil sketch of an angel, by Botticelli. )

ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Angel "Te Deum Laudamus," by Fra Angelico. 12

2. "The Annunciation" by Botticelli. 14

3. "The Visitation" (From the picture in the series on "The Life of the Virgin,") by Dürer. 18

4. "The Madonna of the Magnificat" by Botticelli. 20

5. "The Madonna of the Pomegranate" by Botticelli. 22

6. "The Madonna of the Rose Garden" by Botticelli. 24

7. The Angel Crowned with a Jasmine Wreath by Botticelli. 26

8. Pencil Sketch of an Angel by Botticelli . 28

[Illustration: Te Deum Laudamus by Fra Angelico ]

THE ANGEL OF THOUGHT

( Suggested by a Fra Angelico Angel )

Angel of Thought, meseems God winged thee so, And crowned thine head with passion fine as flame, And made thy lifted face too pure for shame, With eyes and brow a mirror to His glow; And gave thy lips a golden trump, that, though Long years have passed since other angels came To work the mighty wonders of His name, In God's own name and man's, thyself shalt go Forever on strong pinions to and fro, And round the earth reverberating blow The mute, world shaking music of the mind; That thou might'st make as naught all space and time, And thrill in mystic oneness through mankind, Yet dwell in each, inviolate, sublime.

[Illustration: The Annunciation by Botticelli ]

ANNUNCIATION

( From the picture by Botticelli )

I