The Poet of All Circles'

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 3, 17 January 1907, Page 9

The Poet of All Circles '

The posthumous honor of _ a monument has come tardily to "the grave of Thomas Moore. ' The poet of all circles and the—wkil of his own 1 was laid to rest in the little English village cemetery^ of Bromham (Wilts.) in 1852. And only a few weeks ago a fitting monument was placed by admirers where his bones await the great Roll Call. Like Southey, "Scott, and. Brougham, Moore withered at the top— to change the metaphor, his once brilliant intellect paled- and went % out' like the last dull flickerings of a tallow candle.But Ms work was already done.. He lives in the - hearts of the Irish- people as the man who found -the dear ..harp .of his oountry in darkness and silence and ' waked all its chords to life, sweetness, and -song.' We lay this flower upon his grave : that lie sang, the wrongs and woes; and hopes of his. country at a time * when > _ ' 'It was treason to love her and death to defend ', He, too, it was who wrote the words that are . still as a banner with the star' of hope to the \lrisli people :—: — """",.

- , . . ' Thd nations have fallen, and -thou art still young ; Thy sun is but rising, when others are set ; And though slavery's cloud o'er thy morning hath hung, _ . The full noon- of freedom shall beam" round thee yet. Erin, 0 Erin! though long in the shade, Thy star will shine out when the proudest shaiL fade '. Moore has been described as ' the sweetest lyrist of her" saddest songs '. But even in his hopeless moods he sang sweetly. Many of "his lyrics will ever make the heart "of the Western Celt beat fast ; and ; many of them have become world-ballads, through their . matchless fancy, their felicitous expression, and the perennial charm of the ancient melodies to which they are wedded. *"- Moore's ' Sacred Songs ' give „ glimpses . into the . clear depths of religious, feeling that he inherited from a. pious mother. And many passages in his prose and poetic works might _be quoted to prove his loyalty to~ the faith of his fathers. The popularity achieved by his— brillant mental gifts and social accomplishments tarnished -to some, extent the bright gold .of his religious practice. Matters in this respect were not -mended by a mixed marriage wi"th ;a beautiful young Irish non-Catholic actress, Bessie., Dykes, although she was to him a tender arid devoted • wife.* But he never repudiated the ancient iaith— as "spine • writers have alleged. The Anglican rector of Bromham wrote to Mr. Daniel Ambrose, M.P., on "November 12, 1887 : 'Having known Mr. Moore well, I can confidently say that he never changed his religious belief ; that"~he died, as ho had lived, a Roman Catholic. It is true that during the last two years of his 'life no priest was allowed to' see him ; but duiing that time, in consequence .of his mental state, no one — not even a servant—was admitted into his room. " Bessy " Moore nursed and tended him entirely. He recognised her at the _last, and his last words to her were : n Bessy, . have faith, in God." ' The same , writer told how Moore 'would sometimes accompany . his wife, who was a member of my congregation^ to the door ; 'but he never entered or took part in the services.' * ■ - Like Goldsmith, Moore died * far from the .land ' that he loved and sang,— he passed away amidst the funereal gloom and despair- that followed the days of the Great FanAne. But, like the nightingale, in .Hans Andersen's fairy tale, he sang hope and conciliation into the people's' hearts. And we may all (with Mr. John Dillon) indulge the hope , which 7 j Moore had ofton felt might yet- ~be "realised, 'that the two nations so - long hostile' and estranged may learn— to understand each other and be friends.' So may it be ! -