# LXXI: Messina explained — Verses on Various Occasions

> Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman.

## What happens

The narrator reflects on his emotional response to the pagan history and legendary tales of Messina, questioning whether it is blameworthy to feel such attachment. He concludes that his tears arise not from impure sources but from a shared sympathy with humanity, recognizing in each brother's history his own story. The chapter closes with a meditation on human ambition and failure.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sin and Redemption

The narrator questions whether his attachment to pagan scenes is blameworthy, but reframes it as a shared human sympathy, touching on themes of moral judgment and redemption.

### Suffering and Humility

The closing lines describe human life as 'man’s tomb and splendid record-stone, high hope, pride-stain’d, the course without the prize,' highlighting suffering and humility.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator expresses a yearning heart and sympathetic tears toward the ancient scenes of Messina.

### Adam

Referenced as the source of shared human sympathy: 'sympathy with Adam’s race'.

## Key lines

> Why, wedded to the Lord, still yearns my heart Towards these scenes of ancient heathen fame?

Why does my heart, devoted to God, still long for these places of old pagan glory?

_The narrator questions his own attachment to non-Christian history._

> Nay, from no fount impure these drops arise; ’Tis but that sympathy with Adam’s race When in each brother’s history reads its own.

No, these tears come from a pure source; they arise from shared human sympathy, recognizing one's own story in another's.

_The narrator defends his emotional response as a natural human connection._

> So let the cliffs and seas of this fair place Be named man’s tomb and splendid record-stone, High hope, pride-stain’d, the course without the prize.

Let this beautiful landscape be called humanity's grave and a glorious monument, marked by lofty ambition tainted by pride, a race run without winning the reward.

_The narrator reflects on the tragic nature of human striving._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/lxxi-messina
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters