Watts (1817-1904) by William Loftus Hare
page 36 of 43 (83%)
page 36 of 43 (83%)
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In "Love Triumphant" Love takes the place of, and transcends Judgment.
Time and Death having travelled together through the ages, are in the end overthrown, and Love alone rises on immortal wings. Thus the stoical painter reaches his greatest height--tells his best truth. _The Death Series_.--As may be expected, Death has no terrors for the fundamental Watts. Never once does Death look with hollow eyes and sunken cheeks, or grasp with bony fingers at the living. In "Death Crowning Innocence," as a mother she puts her halo on the infant Innocence, whom she claims. Death holds a Court to which all must go--priest, soldier, king, cripple, beautiful woman, and young child. The lion must die, the civilisation be overthrown, wealth, fame, and pride must be let go--so Watts shows in his "Court of Death"; all come to the end of the book marked _Finis_. Death is calm and majestic, with angel wings, and overhead are the figures of Silence and Mystery, guarding, but partially revealing what is beyond the veil--sunrise and the star of hope; while even in the lap of Death nestles a new-born babe--the soul passing into new realms through the gates of Death. Again, Death is _the Messenger_ who comes, not to terrify, but as an ambassador to call the soul away from this alien land, quietly touching the waiting soul with the finger-tips. In the beautiful "Paolo and Francesca" the lovers are seen as Dante told of them; wafted along by the infernal wind; of them he spoke: "... Bard! Willingly I would address these two together coming, Which seem so light before the wind." Francesca's reply to Dante is of Love and Death: |
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