Chapter Chapter 5 of Index by Simonds History of American Literature

new poems of genuine worth. These were the impressive Hymn to Night, beginning with its finely imaginative stanza:--

"I heard the trailing garments of the Night
   Sweep through her marble halls!
I saw her sable skirts all fringed with light
   From the celestial walls!"--

the Psalm of Life, now so time-worn and so hackneyed that we treat it slightingly instead of submitting our imagination to the stirring appeal of its verse, The Reaper and the Flowers, The Light of Stars, Footsteps of Angels, Flowers, The Beleaguered City, and Midnight Mass for the Dying Year. Simple and melodious, these poems quickly found their way into the homes and hearts of the people. Two years later a volume of Ballads and Other Poems appeared; and to the songs in the earlier group were added the now familiar Skeleton in Armor, The Wreck of the Hesperus, The Village Blacksmith, The Rainy Day, Maidenhood, and Excelsior -- this last, like the Psalm of Life, a favorite mark for the arrow of the critic. It is worth while, in passing, to note how many of these compositions have held their place in popularity and justified the first impression of their merit.

Poems on Slavery.

Longfellow took little part in the political discussions of his day. He was neither abolitionist nor transcendentalist, nor did he, like Whittier or Lowell, employ his verse in the furtherance of any specific cause. He did, however, on his return voyage, after a six months' stay in Europe, in 1842, compose seven poems dealing with the subject of slavery; and these were published at the close of the year. They lack intensity of feeling and possess little artistic merit, but are interesting as the only utterance on this theme to which the poet gave public expression.

Second Marriage.

In 1843, occurred the poet's marriage to Miss Frances Appleton, whom he had first met in Switzerland, seven years before. In the character of Mary Ashburton, she had figured in the romance Hyperion. In this year of his marriage was published the first of Longfellow's dramas, The Spanish Student.

Succession of the Works.

The next ten years were richly productive. Two collections were edited by Longfellow in 1845, one of which, The Poets and Poetry of Europe, contained numerous translations made by the poet. Then followed, in 1846, the volume entitled The Belfry of Bruges and Other Poems; and in 1847, the first long narrative poem, Evangeline. Kavanagh, a Tale, was completed in 1849, and a fresh volume of verse, The Seaside and the Fireside, appeared in 1850. Another dramatic work, The Golden Legend, was finished in 1851. In 1854, Longfellow began working upon Hiawatha. The work was completed and published in 1855.

Evangeline.

Of the two narrative poems it is necessary to speak in some detail. The pathetic incident on which the story of Evangeline is based was related first to Hawthorne, as a subject well suited to romance; the novelist, however, made no use of the material thus obtained, but willingly resigned the theme to Longfellow, who had shown a lively interest in the tale.¹

There was no question of the poet's success. This beautiful idyll of the Acadian exiles, with its plaintive romance of Evangeline's weary, heart-breaking search for the lover so ruthlessly separated from his bride, was immediately accepted as the crown of the poet's work. And it is worthy of note that the poem was finished upon his fortieth birthday.