Melville--Clarel

[Terrance F. Flaherty]

Yes, I read it recently with the Melville list-serve,
Ishmale. The soul in every stone. 

>From Melville's Clarel

10. A HALT  
 
 In divers ways which vary it
 Stones mention find in hallowed Writ:
 Stones rolled from well-mouths, altar stones,
 Idols of stone, memorial ones,
 Sling-stones, stone tables; Bethel high
 Saw Jacob, under starry sky,
 
 On stones his head lay--desert bones;
 Stones sealed the sepulchers--huge cones
 Heaved there in bulk; death too by stones
 The law decreed for crime; in spite
 As well, for taunt, or type of ban,
 The same at place were cast, or man;
 Or piled upon the pits of fight
 Reproached or even denounced the slain:
 So in the wood of Ephraim, some
 Laid the great heap over Absalom.
   Convenient too at willful need,
 Stones prompted many a ruffian deed
 And ending oft in parting groans;
 
 By stones died Naboth; stoned to death
 Was Stephen meek: and Scripture saith,
 Against even Christ they took up stones.
 Moreover, as a thing profuse,
 Suggestive still in every use,
 On stones, still stones, the gospels dwell
 In lesson meet or happier parable.
 
   Attesting here the Holy Writ--
 In brook, in glen, by tomb and town
 In natural way avouching it--
 BEHOLD THE STONES! And never one
 A lichen greens; and, turn them o'er--
 No worm--no life; but, all the more,
 Good witnesses.
                The way now led
 Where shoals of flints and stones lay dead.
 The obstructed horses tripped and stumbled,
 The Thessalonian groaned and grumbled.
 But Glaucon cried: "Alack the stones!...

 "The stone was man's first missile; yes,
 Cain hurled it, or his sullen hand
 Therewith made heavy. Cain, confess,
 A savage was, although he planned
 His altar. Altars such as Cain's
 Still find we on far island-chains
 Deep mid the woods and hollows dark,
 And set offlike the shittim Ark.
 Refrain from trespass; with black frown
 Each votary straight takes up his stone--
 As once against even me indeed:
 I see them now start from their rocks
 In malediction."...




Richard Romeo wrote:
> 
> Hey folks--
> 
> has anyone attempted to read Melville's long poem, Clarel.
> 
> Seems like a challenge I may be up to
> Rich
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