The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-29 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Griselda, a Tragedy : and other Poems. By
Edwin Arnold. David Bogue.
As there were two Montgomerys (James and
Robert) in the last generation of versifiers, so
there are two Arnolds (Edwin and Matthew) in the
new race of " young poets" who have latterly
bounded forward into the literary arena as compe-
titors for popularity. And as, we believe, with
the rival Montgomerys, so we believe with the
rival Arnolds—no tie of relationship binds the two,
however remotely, together. The tuXtaposition of
the twain results only from a similarity of names,
not from any connecting bond of consanguinity.
It happens, however, in the case of our two con-
temporary young poets, the Arnolds, that there is a
certain similarity traceable between the character
of each as a student of polite-letters endowed with
a refined taste, a delicate sensibility, a very rare
store of book learning, and a singularly graceful
and elevated imagination. Analogous—this simi-
larity—in some measure, at least, with the resem-
blance so far observable between their predecessors,
the two Montgomerys already mentioned, as both
of them religious versifiers, both of them versifiers
moral in purpose and diaactic in style. Never-
theless there is this most observable peculiarity
which distinguishes Edwin and Matthew Arnold as
poetics competitors, from James and Robert Mont-
gomery as simply poetic contemporaries. There is
no such glaring discrepancy between the in-
tellectual strength of the former, as there
was incontestibly discernible between that of
the latter, a discrepancy so remarkable in
its kind and magnitude as at once to place
in separate categories the author of "Satan" and the
author of the "World before the Flood." Neither
of the Arnolds can feel otherwise than complimented
by a comparison with his immediate contemporary
and namesake—Mr. Bogue's " Arnold" and the
"Arnold" of the Messrs. Longmans might, each in
turn, experience a reasonable degree of gratification
at any contrast whatever being drawn between their
rival publications. They are both scholars of re-
fined taste, stored with classical erudition, and
gifted largely with natural sensibility and with an
admirable appreciation for the true and beautiful.
Mr. Matthew Arnold, the son of the ever-honoured
Rugby Schoolmaster, has evidenced his poetic capa
city by two substantive publications, issued in the
unpretending form of two volumes of " Poems" (so en-
titled)—First Series and Second Series—the former
of these (to our mind, immeasurably the worthier)
having already attained the honours of a " second
edition." Mr. Edwin Arnold, of University Col-
lege, resembling his namesake in this, as in other
things, has likewise already given to the world two
separate books of verse—his maiden work, simply
entitled "Poems, Narrative and Lyrical," and his
recently issued volume, inscribed upon the title-
page, " Griselda, and other Poems"—.the latter, a
book which cannot but tend to enhance his reputa-
tion. Griselda !—well, 'tis an old story: simply,
gravely, wisely, nobly, eloquently told anew. And
so let it pass—with a sigh for the fancy, and a
benison for the memory, of sweet-hearted, clear-
minded, honey-tongued old Chaucer. The
" Occasional Poems" which follow possess for
us a more individual interest as the direct
intellectual offspring of our author's imagina-
tion. Industrious he has proved himself to be of
late—for during 1855 alone we observe three dis-
tinct poems to have been issued first of all through
the pages of three among our first-class magazines
—Blackwood's .Magazine, and Fraser's Alagazine,
and Bentley's Miscellany—the poem in Maga beinc,
one of considerable beauty, called " Vernier." It
surprises us, rather, to observe among Mr. Edwin
Arnold's minor pieces a pathetic commemoration of
" Andre Chenier," suggested by the very same in-
cident which the muse of Sir Bulwer Lytton has so
exquisitely celebrated. Strange, too, is it to re-
mark another fragmentary contribution to the
poet's corner of The Press, entitled "In Memo
riam," in very despite of Mr. Tennyson. This is
one from among the number of " Songs of the
Time." As a specimen of our anther's powers as a
humorist, take his " Address of a Peer Scholar to
his Pound Sterling"—heginning quaintly :
0-old !as I'm a starving sinner !
Saint Cecilia! what a chink !
I'll ordain a regal dinner,—
Gods ! I'll eat and drink.
Counter in the game of livieg,
Buying deuce, knave, queen, and king,
Bartered, borrowed, given, giving,
Potent yellow thing !
Now I feel, I see thy story,
Grecian, gold-won Danae ;
If ono comes with grace and glory
What must a shower be ?
Oh, Fortuna ! and this morning
Thou mightest have spared me my Catullus,
And stilled my landlady's shrill warning,
Instead of sweet Tibullus.
Too late ! I dined on old Homerus,
And Plautus paid my washing bill ;
Well ! " earns," stranger, " tamen sums."
Thou'rt most wuloome still.
Nay, but stay ! it can't bo really
All a solemn sterling pound,
I'vo seen so few—l'll ringit fairly :
Mammon ! there's a sound !
Continued thus sportively :
Yea ! by all the sands of Hermus,
By Apollo's golden bow,
See, my soul ! those signs confirm us,
'Tin—where shall wo go ?
Venison's in, and at the Sceptre
Splendidly I know they dress it,
Had I two ! sage preceptor,
" Amor nummi crescit."
For the potent charm that binds thee,
Shillings twenty ! to my heart,
Is— whoever after finds thee,
Thou and I mast part.
And ending with this pleasant extravagance :
Lo ! mine inn !—Hence, cares ! in " mare
Creticum,"—or down to Greenwich.
* * n * *
Is this after all but fairy
Laud,—or lamb and spinnach ?
Waiter, Ito ! " vinum deprome,—"
Bring an amphora, I say—
Dost thou better seek to know me ?
Doubtest thou I'll pay ?
Lo ! the coin ! quick, varlet, quicker !
Napkiued knave ! mistrustful churl !
Cleopatra-like, in liquor
Thus I melt my pearl.

As a contrast to this, let us instance the following
as au example of the skill with which our young
poet can command our tears no less readily than
our laughter. It is a little conceit " from the
German," called " The Three Studonts
There came three students from over the Rhine,
To a certain good hostel they turned them for wine.
Ho ! Landlady, have you strong wine and beer ?
How fareth the Fraulein, your daughter dear ?
My beer is fresh, and my wino is bright ;
My child will be shrouded and buried to-night.
They drew the door of her death-room back,
There slumbered she in her cod in black :
The first lie lifted the veil from the dead,
And bared his curls, and beaded, and said,
" Ah ! could'st thou but live again, maiden here
From this day forth I would love thee dear !"
The second spread softly the face-cloth again,
And his tears fell fast as the midsummer rain :
" Dead ! art thou, Lisbeth? cold, lip and brow ?
" Ah God ! I learn how I loved thee now !"
But the third in his hand did the little hand take,
And kissed the white forehead, and smiled and spake,
" I love thee to-day as I loved thee before,
I shall love thee as truly for evermore."
May Mr. Edwin Arnold direct his unquestionable
abilities so judiciously that his nano may hereafter
be remembered !

Henry Lyle ; orp Life and Existence. By Emilia
Marry-att. 2 vols. Chapman and Hall.
We have here an interesting tale ; in some parts
it is painful, but that is rendered requisite by the
nature of the composition. Henry Lyle, the hero,
is an instance of nufriended talent rising into emi-
nence by his exertions ; but the real object of the
story i to exemplify the inner world, the life which
the soul is passing, in contradistinction to the mere
animal existence of the body. Mr. Vere is perhaps
rather exaggerated in detail, but there are many
such heartless and selfish characters extant, men
who employ the gifts of their intellect to pervert
truth, and to uphold wrong, who fascinate by their
powers of pleasing, and confuse the weak, lead
astray the wavering, and favour, by every means
in their power, the career of wickedness upon the
earth. Henry Lyle is a bright exception to the
ordinary class of people it is to be feared, not but
that some such may be seen occasionally to demon-
strate that, though fallen, the human nature may
rise again if it endeavours to approximate to a
divine standard. It is not the wish of the authoress
to make out that all honours and happiness attend
on such a course ; on the contrary, it is seen
that virtue is its own reward, in the inspiration to
perform meritorious actions with which it animates
its votaries, in the sense of right that they feel in
all unjust persecutions, and in the calm with which
they meet lesser evils. Her ways are ways of
pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, was pecu-
j liarly felt by Lyle from the commencement of his
career until the end. It is a touching instance of
the good that can be effected by kindness, in the
record of his doing among the poorer class of his
neighbours. The news of his death caused a dark
day in the courts and lanes where he had been a
ministering spirit to the cares and sorrows of the
inmates. Philip, the cousin of Augusta, the he-
roine, and the wife of Lyle, is a fine character,
who struggles to overcome himself when he sees
others in distress. He resigned his cousin to his
friend, and in their hour of need he sent them
the produce of his labours in another country, to
which ho had departed to efface old impressions.

Valentine Leigh is an instance of the incalculable
harm that is effected by the thoughtless and indo-
i lent who fall into bad company, and are only
stedfast in one thing, not to try to do right. With
one trouble and another, Henry Lyle did
not pass his short life very happily, in the
I common acceptation of the term; but the
ephemeral and transitory duration of that
feeling, as relates to earthly sensations, could never
be the attendant of his exalted aims or the comps-
' mon of his unselfish nature. The mean and paltry
worldling around him could not comprehend him
or his motives ; it was the peace that passed their
understanding which was the crown and glory o'
his life. Augusta is of an excellent and noble dispo-
sition, improving as she gained experience, and ge-
nuine in action, thought, and word. Those who are
pleased with stories that relate to feeling more than
action, and that seek to impart instruction more
than they strive to convey amusement, will find
in these pages a subject worthy of their regard and
respect. Those who prefer the unreflective and
lighter style will yet acknowledge that this is of a
high character, for its principles are pure, its aim
exalted, and its precepts admoinsu, that we must
follow the fashions of another world than this, if
we would lead a life worthy of living for.

The Scincle Railway. By W. P. Andrew, Esq.

Wm. R. Alien and Co.

Mr. Andrew is known as " The Old Postmaster,"
to an important section of the community as the
author of several works on Indian Railways. In
the present work he points out the relations of the
Scinde Railway to the various routes to India, and
its probable effects in developing the vast resources
of the Punjaub, and supplies details of a project to
connect the Mediterranean and the Euphrates by
railway, and thereby establish a route via the Per-
sian Gulf to all parts of India, by which at the
outset the communication will be shortened nearly
one-half. In support of the undertaking he ad-
vances a mass of testimony, official and otherwise,
from which it appears the feasibility of the scheme
has been recognised from the date of the surveys
by General Chesney, and the greatest probability
exists of its being speedily accomplished. The
line front the port of Seleucia to 'Taber Castle, on
the Euphrates, is about 80 miles in length. From
this point the river becomes navigable to Bursorah,
at the head, of the Persian Gulf, a distance of 715
miles. The course from Bursorah is nearly straight
for steamers to Kurrachee, the terminus of the
Scinde Railway, and a port of great natural faci-
lities, with a population of 30,000. The route
is thus connected with the Indus, which is navig-
able for steamers to Mooltan, which it is proposed
by the author to connect by rail with Lahore and
the Punjaub. The route, as traced on the map,
seems to be unusually direct ; and if reliance is to
be placed on the official and other testimony in its
favour, which we see no reason to doubt, the scheme
is one deserving of every encouragement.