WHO will go drive with Fergus now,
And pierce the deep wood's woven shade,
And dance upon the level shore?
Young man, lift up your russet brow,
And lift your tender eyelids, maid,
And brood on hopes and fear no more.
And no more turn aside and brood
Upon love's bitter mystery;
For Fergus rules the brazen cars,
And rules the shadows of the wood,
And the white breast of the dim sea
And all dishevelled wandering stars.
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From guest Traveling Thinker (contact)
What I get from his poem is forget about society, and social boundries. Don't fear expectations it places on you by people. Because Fergus left it, and look at all he has gained. So no matter what you lose, there is always something to gain. -
From guest Aslak Sverkersson (contact)
I've always thought of the use of Fergus here as an Irish version of the Greek name Phoebus, which in Greek mythology can refer both to the Sun and to Apollo, who among other things is the God of both music and poetry. Hence I've always viewed the poem as a tribute to Art and Aestheticism which, very much like the Sun, can brighten even the darkest of days. -
From guest illy (contact)
i think brazen is a good word to choose since it also means bold and confident (a little insolent too) -
brazen cars
From guest stephanie (contact)
"Cars" in the early use of the word meant chariots, "brazen" made of or plated in brass, like the rays of the sun. To me it sounds like a reference to Fergus the king, who in leaving behind the stresses of formal rule, gained a kingdom far beyond that which had been ceded to him under the bounds of legal government, by becoming a bard and embracing the link between nature and the human soul, and through his poetry mastering the land itself, nature itself, rather than simply the fealty of the people. There are versions of the story of Fergus in which he willingly laid aside his crown in order to embrace the life of a wandering bard, and it seems to be from those versions that Yeats derived his inspiration. -
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Personally I think the car (or carr) referred to means marsh or wet ground, overgrown with brushwood.
It is a the derivation of the name Carr and Kerr and ties in more readily with the idea of 'rules over' in the final 4 lines than does any reference to transport.
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The sun rises from the sea. Fergus, remember who he is, is driving the brazen (golden, bronze) cars (rays) of the sun to bring light to Ireland. Therefore the young men and maids of Ireland may lift up their brows, and brood no more on past troubles. This poem is about Ireland's history and the time when Yeats was writing the poem. Look into Irish history.
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Well for me Yeats is asking his readers to model Fergus's actions. He renounced all materialistic desires (including love) and sought a life of simplicity and spirituality, and danced upon the level shore because of it. The deep wood's woven shade = the unknown. And in response to the previous comment, in my opinion I think that "brazen cars" is in reference to battle/warfare. pz.
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Brazen cars? Is that a reference to automobiles? Maybe backseat love as might also be had in "the shadows of the wood"?
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"And no more turn aside and brood
Upon love's bitter mystery"
Sounds a bit like Yeats's lines for his epitaph:
"cast a cold eye on life, on death.
Horseman, pass by!" -
easy to memorize
I always thought this poem was about Yeats asking who wants to be a poet, I mean who dares to be a poet, and be free --in a sense-- of the daily grind, because the creative spirit is bigger than all that ... it rules the dishevelled wandering stars. -
interesting...so "Who Goes With Fergus?" is saying 'Who goes with the king...the king-removed...?'
Sir Samuel Ferguson...that's funny...why FERGUSon? lol...well he couldn't have been a relative -
Fergus, of Who goes with Fergus and Fergus and the Druid, are basded upon the tale of the legendary King of Ulster, Fergus MacRoy (or MacRoigh).
Fergus, married Ness (or Nessa), and she persuaded Fergus to allow her son from from a pervious marrage, to rule for a year in his stead. At the end of the year, they tricked Fergus out of his kingdom. Fergus spent the rest of his days hunting, fighting and feasting. He was a poet, and in the Irish saga, Tain bo Cuailgne he was the lover of Maeve.
W.B. got his inspiration for Fergus from The Abduction of Fergus MacRoy. by Sir Samual Ferguson. (1810-1886)
Andrew -
This poem is short and sweet and easy to read. I agree with AndrewHide...peace is relatively free, eh? One thing to speculate on is...just who was Fergus?
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Why must one suffer to find real peace, this poem is rich in thought and voice. A joy to read and read again.
Andrew -
Fergus sounds like a nice guy, with a little possitive outlook, not brooding on the troubles that life and love bring. Return back to simplicity and enjoy that which is, and can be enjoyed.
Peace
Chris
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