Re: Tennyson's bells

On Dec 13, 3:26 am, "Donald Davison" <donald.davi...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I ain't sayin this is a source, but putting things side by side can be
interesting. In this case, Tennyson side by side with Chimes of Freedom and
Ring Them Bells. It makes me wonder if the characteristic oddness of Dylan's
lyrics derives from the merging of beat poetry (often _considered_ edgy and
liberating) and 19th century post-romantic poetry (often _considered_
sedate).

Anyway, here is Tennyson, ringing those bells and gazing upon those chimes:

In Memoriam, CVI

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
    The flying cloud, the frosty light:
    The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
    Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
    The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
    For those that here we see no more;
    Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
    And ancient forms of party strife;
    Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
    The faithless coldness of the times;
    Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
    The civic slander and the spite;
    Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
    Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
    Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
    The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
    Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

----

Donald

Nice! It's been years since I read this, and really like it in light
of "Ring them Bells." Throw in a little Edgar Allan Poe to suit Bob's
all-American sensibility, and I'm even happier.
.

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