Even the sky of the 'Fighting Temeraire' has faded
considerably since it was painted, and others of his oil-pictures are
mere shadows of their former selves. It is pathetic to look upon the
wreck of work not a century old and to wonder how much of it will be
preserved for future generations.
Turner himself deemed the 'Temeraire' one of his best pictures, and
from the beginning intended to bequeath it to the National Gallery,
refusing to sell it for any price whatever.
There's a far bell ringing,
At the setting of the sun,
And a phantom voice is singing
Of the great days done.
There's a far bell ringing,
And a phantom voice is singing
Of renown for ever clinging
To the great days done.
Now the sunset breezes shiver,
_Temeraire! Temeraire!_
And she's fading down the river,
_Temeraire! Temeraire!_
Now the sunset breezes shiver,
And she's fading down the river,
But in England's song for ever
She's the '_Fighting Temeraire_.'[4]
[Footnote 4: _The Fighting Temeraire_. Henry Newbolt.]
CHAPTER XV
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Since we began our voyagings together among the visionary worlds of
the great painters, five hundred and thirty years ago, at the accession
of King Richard II.
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