
Transcribed from the 1887 Cassell & Company edition, David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk
A lyrical tribute unfolds in the voice of a sculptor‑poet, weaving reverence for an idealized love with a meditation on duty and artistic purpose. The verses open with a celestial ray that sparks a belief in worth, urging readers to rise above ordinary pleasures and answer a higher calling. As the narrator sketches his muse, Nelly Dale, the language balances tender admiration with the grandeur of monumental art, inviting listeners to feel both intimacy and the awe of grand creation.
Set against the backdrop of Victorian ideals, the work mingles personal devotion with a broader celebration of literature’s power to uplift the soul. The poet’s reflections echo the aspirations of those who seek meaning beyond daily toil, offering a contemplative pause for anyone yearning for beauty in both heart and mind. This intimate yet expansive composition promises an evocative listening experience that lingers long after the final line.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (113K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Jan 22, 2006
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1825–1892
A founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, he brought the movement’s ideals into sculpture as well as poetry. His life joined Victorian art, literature, and public monuments in a way that still feels strikingly modern.
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