On Sat, 19 Apr 1997, George L. McDowell, Jr. wrote: > Springtime is here, and time for the annual reading of Tennyson's > "Locksley Hall." There is a passage in which I don't understand a > reference, and ask for help. > > _ I that rather held it better > men should perish one by one, > Than the earth should stand at gaze > like Joshua's moon in Ajalon!_ > > I can't figure the meaning of this, and don't get the (astronomical?) > reference to "Joshua's moon in Ajalon." > > Thanks for any help. > > George >
The reference is to the famous Biblical passage when Joshua 'made the sun stand still'. He apparently also made the Moon stand still over the valley of Ajalon at the same time. Presumably this is all figurative and obviously not literal. Time can seem to pass very quickly in battle--a few minutes can seem like hours. Tennyson seems to be saying that he preferred that people should die naturally rather than be slaughtered en masse in wars or through disasters. Mike Dworetsky, Department of Physics | Tell a student that there are 100 & Astronomy, University College London | billion stars in the Galaxy, and he Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT UK | will believe you. . . .Tell him email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | that a bench has wet paint on it and Tel: +(44) 0181 959 0421 | he will have to touch it to be sure. Fax: +(44) 0181 906 4121 |
