Skip to content
Storgy

The Annotated Edition

PART SECOND by James Russell Lowell

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Read aloud in ~1 minOpen reading mode →

This two-stanza passage marks the beginning of the darker part of a longer narrative poem, signaling to the reader that things are about to take a turn for the grim.

Poet
James Russell Lowell
Themes
art, fear, love
The PoemFull text

PART SECOND

James Russell Lowell

I As one who, from the sunshine and the green, Enters the solid darkness of a cave, Nor knows what precipice or pit unseen May yawn before him with its sudden grave, And, with hushed breath, doth often forward lean, Dreaming he hears the plashing of a wave Dimly below, or feels a damper air From out some dreary chasm, he knows not where; II So, from the sunshine and the green of love, We enter on our story's darker part; 290 And, though the horror of it well may move An impulse of repugnance in the heart, Yet let us think, that, as there's naught above The all-embracing atmosphere of Art, So also there is naught that falls below Her generous reach, though grimed with guilt and woe.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This two-stanza passage marks the beginning of the darker part of a longer narrative poem, signaling to the reader that things are about to take a turn for the grim. Lowell likens the transition from a joyful love story to its troubled aftermath to stepping out of bright sunlight and into a pitch-black cave. He reassures us that Art holds the power — and the responsibility — to confront even the most unsettling human experiences without flinching.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. As one who, from the sunshine and the green, / Enters the solid darkness of a cave,

    Editor's note

    Stanza I unfolds like an extended simile. A person steps out of bright daylight and into a cave, needing to slow down, hold their breath, and navigate carefully — fearful of a concealed drop or pit. The cave is saturated with uncertainty: the speaker envisions hearing water far below or feels a cold draft from an invisible chasm. Each detail (held breath, dreaming of sounds, unsure of the source) emphasizes our blindness and vulnerability when we step away from the comforting light of familiarity.

  2. So, from the sunshine and the green of love, / We enter on our story's darker part;

    Editor's note

    Stanza II introduces the simile, suggesting that the cave represents the dark turn the narrative is about to take. Lowell recognizes that the upcoming content might disturb the reader, but he shifts to defending Art itself. He compares Art to an atmosphere — it envelops all, regardless of status — and asserts that nothing, no matter how tainted by guilt or pain, is unworthy of its focus. This serves as both an apology for the impending darkness and a declaration of artistic principle.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone shifts in two distinct beats. The first stanza feels quiet and uneasy — it's as if you can hear someone cautiously tiptoeing through darkness. The second stanza stands tall and takes on a more measured, almost philosophical tone. Lowell remains calm and thoughtful, like a guide who has traveled this path before, encouraging you to trust him even as the light fades away.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The cave
The cave symbolizes the dark and morally complex part of the story that the poem is introducing. It reflects the hidden dangers of guilt, sorrow, and human flaws—elements we often don't recognize until we find ourselves deep within them.
Sunshine and the green
Used twice—first in the context of the literal cave scenario and then for love—this phrase evokes feelings of happiness, innocence, and the cozy segment of the story that we are now moving away from.
The all-embracing atmosphere of Art
Art is like the air: invisible, omnipresent, and surrounding everything without bias. This perspective suggests that Art isn't meant to serve as a moral gatekeeper; it should equally embrace darkness alongside beauty.
The pit / chasm
The hidden drop in the cave floor represents a sudden disaster—the type of calamity that can strike unexpectedly in a person's life, particularly in a love story that has taken a turn for the worse.
The plashing of a wave
The faint, uncertain sound of water deep in the cave hints at something alive and moving in the darkness below—a glimpse of the emotional turbulence that lies ahead in the story.

§06Historical context

Historical context

James Russell Lowell published *A Legend of Brittany* in 1844, a lengthy narrative poem structured in Spenserian stanzas, from which this excerpt is taken. At the time, Lowell was in his mid-twenties and part of the New England literary circle that included figures like Longfellow and Whittier. He was deeply invested in exploring what American poetry should convey. The poem unfolds a tragic medieval story centered on love, sin, and spiritual repercussions. "Part Second" marks the shift from romance to its darker outcomes. In the closing lines, Lowell defends Art, reflecting a Romantic belief—similar to that of Keats and Shelley—that poetry should confront suffering and moral complexities, as the full spectrum of human experience is the rightful domain of artists. This passage also highlights Lowell's early aspiration to create poetry that is both morally significant and artistically ambitious.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

It serves as a transitional passage in a longer narrative poem. Lowell is indicating to the reader that the story is moving from its romantic, joyful phase into a darker and more unsettling territory. Together, the two stanzas function as both a warning and a justification.

Read next

Poems in the same key

Similar poems

ODE ON A GRECIAN URN. — John KeatsThe Prelude — William WordsworthThe Raven — Edgar Allan PoeAurora Leigh — Elizabeth Barrett Browning

More by James Russell Lowell

Browse all James Russell Lowell poems →

Themes in this poem

Poems about artPoems about fearPoems about lovePoems about sorrow