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The Annotated Edition

SIMON. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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

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In this powerful monologue, a speaker talks to someone he has brought from Tyre to the plain of Esdraelon—a site rich with ancient legends and spiritual significance.

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Themes
faith, identity, memory
The PoemFull text

SIMON.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Swift are the blessed Immortals to the mortal That perseveres! So doth it stand recorded In the divine Chaldaean Oracles Of Zoroaster, once Ezekiel's slave, Who in his native East betook himself To lonely meditation, and the writing On the dried skins of oxen the Twelve Books Of the Avesta and the Oracles! Therefore I persevere; and I have brought thee From the great city of Tyre, where men deride The things they comprehend not, to this plain Of Esdraelon, in the Hebrew tongue Called Armageddon, and this town of Endor, Where men believe; where all the air is full Of marvellous traditions, and the Enchantress That summoned up the ghost of Samuel Is still remembered. Thou hast seen the land; Is it not fair to look on?

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

In this powerful monologue, a speaker talks to someone he has brought from Tyre to the plain of Esdraelon—a site rich with ancient legends and spiritual significance. He defends their journey by referencing a Zoroastrian teaching that suggests the gods reward those who persist, and he highlights the beauty of the landscape as evidence that belief and wonder still exist. Ultimately, it's a speech about the importance of perseverance and faith over the skepticism often found in city life.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Swift are the blessed Immortals to the mortal / That perseveres!

    Editor's note

    The speaker begins with a quote from the Chaldaean Oracles, ancient mystical texts linked to Zoroaster, stating that the gods swiftly assist those who don’t surrender. This serves as both a guiding principle and a rationale for what is to come.

  2. So doth it stand recorded / In the divine Chaldaean Oracles / Of Zoroaster, once Ezekiel's slave,

    Editor's note

    Longfellow taps into a 19th-century scholarly tradition that connected Zoroaster, the Persian prophet, with the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel. Referring to Zoroaster as 'once Ezekiel's slave' places the mystical Zoroastrian wisdom within a biblical context, merging Eastern and Western religious authority to strengthen the speaker's argument.

  3. Who in his native East betook himself / To lonely meditation, and the writing / On the dried skins of oxen the Twelve Books

    Editor's note

    Zoroaster retreats into solitude to write the Avesta, the sacred scripture of his faith. The detail of using dried ox-skins gives the act of writing an ancient, laborious, and sacred feel. Longfellow subtly admires the patient and solitary effort that leads to enduring wisdom.

  4. Therefore I persevere; and I have brought thee / From the great city of Tyre, where men deride / The things they comprehend not,

    Editor's note

    The speaker now gets personal. Tyre represents urban sophistication and mockery—a place where people look down on what they don’t understand. In contrast, the journey to Esdraelon signifies a conscious departure from that cynicism, leading to a landscape where belief can still thrive.

  5. to this plain / Of Esdraelon, in the Hebrew tongue / Called Armageddon, and this town of Endor,

    Editor's note

    The place names carry significant meaning here. "Armageddon" evokes the apocalyptic imagery from the Book of Revelation, while "Endor" is known as the site where the Witch of Endor called up the ghost of Samuel for King Saul (1 Samuel 28). By using these names together, the text conveys to both the listener and the reader that this is a landscape rich with supernatural history.

  6. Where men believe; where all the air is full / Of marvellous traditions, and the Enchantress / That summoned up the ghost of Samuel / Is still remembered.

    Editor's note

    The speaker highlights the difference between Endor's vibrant folk memory and Tyre's skeptical rationalism. The Witch of Endor isn't criticized; instead, she serves as proof that this place values the unseen realm. The phrase 'The air is full of marvellous traditions' implies that wonder is nearly part of the atmosphere, something you can inhale.

  7. Thou hast seen the land; / Is it not fair to look on?

    Editor's note

    The speech concludes with a straightforward, almost tender question aimed at the quiet companion. Following all the theological and historical debate, the speaker allows the landscape to convey its own message. The simplicity of the question is remarkable — it relies on the idea that beauty and presence can achieve what words cannot.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is earnest and persuasive—this is someone making a case, not just thinking out loud. It carries a quiet intensity, the voice of a true believer who has thoroughly considered everything and wants to share his discoveries. It never crosses into preaching because the speaker consistently reflects on the physical world: the fields, the town, the landscape. By the end, the tone softens into something nearly tender, as if the speaker genuinely hopes his companion will share in his feelings.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The plain of Esdraelon / Armageddon
This landscape embodies the significance of both Hebrew scripture and Christian prophecy. For the speaker, it symbolizes a location where history, faith, and the supernatural come together — starkly contrasting with the hollow cleverness of Tyre.
The city of Tyre
Tyre represents worldly sophistication and intellectual mockery — a place that disregards what it can't quantify. It serves as the contrast through which the speaker articulates his own dedication to belief and perseverance.
The Witch of Endor
Instead of being seen as a figure of condemnation, she represents our ongoing desire to transcend death and the mundane aspects of life. For the speaker, her memory, still vibrant in Endor, shows that wonder is very much alive.
The dried ox-skins / the Twelve Books
The physical act of writing sacred texts on animal skin reflects the careful, solitary work that faith and wisdom demand. It subtly suggests that the most valuable things in life require time and effort.
The Chaldaean Oracles
These ancient mystical texts serve as the speaker's foundational authority. By quoting them at the beginning, he indicates that his worldview is grounded in a tradition that transcends any single religion — representing a universal spiritual inheritance.

§06Historical context

Historical context

This poem is part of Longfellow's lengthy dramatic piece *Judas Maccabaeus* (1872), written toward the end of his life. By the 1870s, Longfellow had experienced the death of his second wife, the turmoil of the Civil War, and the loss of several close friends—events that deepened his exploration of faith, perseverance, and the links between the ancient and modern worlds. The poem taps into 19th-century scholarship that was actively discussing the ties between Persian Zoroastrianism, Hebrew prophecy, and early Christianity. Longfellow had a keen interest in comparative religion long before it became a formal academic field, and *Judas Maccabaeus* showcases that interest by blending Greek, Hebrew, and Persian traditions into a unified dramatic setting.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

The poem doesn’t specify who the listener is. In the broader context of *Judas Maccabaeus*, the speaker is Simon, one of the Maccabean brothers, speaking to a companion he brought from Tyre. The choice to keep 'thee' unnamed is intentional — it shifts the attention to the argument and the setting instead of a particular character.

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