New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-11-26
THE TRIBUNE.

THE RAVEN AND OTHER POEMS: By EpoAa A.
Poe. 1915: 90 VII OF whey & / utuans Library OF
American Books)
Mr.. Poe throws down the gauntlet in his preface,
BY what he says of 1.-The patry compensations or
more pal!rv commentators of mankind" Some
champion might be expected TO star; up from the
somewhat sizeable class embraced or more prop
erly speaking boxed on the ear, by this defiance.
who might try whether the sting OF Criticism was as
indifferent 10 this knight of the pen he processes
its honey 10 be.
Were there such champion, gifted with acumen
to dissect, and swift glancing wit to enliven the
operation he could find no more Legitimate subject,
no fairer game than Mr.. Poe, who has welded the
weapons of criticism, without relenting, whether
with the dagger he rent and tore the garment in
which some favored Joseph had prankcd himself
secure of honor in the sight of all men, or whether
with uplifted tomahawk he rushed upon the new
born children Of some hapless genius, who had fan
cied and persuaded his friends to fancy that they
were beautiful and worthy long and honored life.
A large band of these offended dignitaries and ag
erieved parents must be on the watch for volume
of Poems by Edgar A. Poe ready to cut, rend
and slash in turn and hoping TO see his own Raven
left alone to prey upon the slaughter of which it is
the herald
Such ioust and tournament we look 10 see and in
deed. have some stake in the matter so far as we
have friends whose wrongs cry aloud for the aven-
ger Natheess we could not take part in the melee,
except 10 ioin the crowd of lockers on in the cry
Heaven speed the right
Early we read that fable Of Apollo who rewarded
the critic who had painfully winnowed the wheat,
with the chaff for his pains. We joined the gentle
Affirmative School, and have confidence tina; if we
indulge ourselves chiefly with the appreciation Of
good qualities Time will take care of the faults
For Time holds srainer like that used in the d.
amond mines have but patience and the water
and gravel will all pass through and only the pre-
cious stones be left Yet we are not blind TO the
uses of severe criticism and just censure especial
lv in a time and place so degraded by vena and in.
discriminate praise as the present. That unholy
alliance, that shameless sham whose motto is
"Caw me
and III cav thee"
That system of mutual adulation and organized
puff which was carried TO such perfection in the
time and may be seen drawn to the life in the cor
respondence of Miss Hannah More, is fully repre-
scented in our day and generation. We see that II
meets counter agency, from the league of Truth
telers, few, but each of them mighty as Fingal or
any other hero of the sort. Let such tell the whole
truth as well as nothing but the truth, but let their
sternness be in the spirit of Love. Let them seek
10 understand the purpose and scope of an author,
his capacity as we'll his fulflments, and how his
faults are made 10 grow by the same sunshine that
acts upon his virtues for this is the with talents
no less than with character. The rich field requires
frequent and careful wedding frequent. lest the
weeds exhaust the soil careful lest the flowers and
grain be pulled up along with the weeds
Well but to return 10 Mr. Poe we are not unwil
ling that cav should do her worst on bis book, be-
cause both by act and word he has challenged it,
bat as this is no Office for us, shall merely ind
cate, in our usual slight way, what, naturally and
unsousht has struck ourselves in the reading of
these verses.
Ithas often been our TO share the mistake Of:
Gil Bias with regard 10 the Archbishop. We have
taken people at their word and while rejoicing thai
women could bear neglect without feeling mean
pique and that authors, rising above selfove could
show candor about their works and magnanimously
meet both justice and injustice, we have been rudey
awakened from our dream, and found that Chant
ccer, who crowed so bravely. showed himself al
last but dunghi fowl. Yet Heaven grant we
never become too worldly wise thus to trust gen.
erous word and we surely are not so yet for we be-
lieve Mr. Poe TO be sincere when he says:
ain defence of my own taste it is incumbent upon
me 10 saw that | think nothing in this volume OF
much value 10 the public or very credtable 10 my
self Events not to be controlled have prevented
me from making, at any time, any serious effort IN
what under happier circumstances, would nave
been the field OF my choice.
We believe Mr.. Poe TO be sincere in this declara.
ton ii he is we respect him; if otherwise. we do
not. Such things should never be said unless in
hearty earnest. If in earnest they are honorable
pledges; if not pilful fence and foil OF vanity.
Earnest or not the words thus far true the pro-
ductions in this volume indicate power 10 do some
thing far better With the exception OF The Raven,
which seems intended chiefly TO show the writer s
artistic skill and is in lis way rare and finished
specimen, they are all fragments-tyttes upon the
lvre. almost all of which leave US something to de-
sire or demand This is not the case, however,
with these lines
TO ONE IN PARADISE.
THOU vast all that to me, love,
For which my soul did pine
a green isle in the sea, love-
A fountain and shrine
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
And all the flowers were mine.
All. dream TOO bright 10 last
All, starry Hope that didst arise
But to be overcast
A voice frop out the Future cries,
con! on but Ger the Past
dim guilty my spirit lowering lies
Mute, motionless aghast
For. alas alas with me
The light of Life is Ger
Nc moreno moreno more
Such language holds the solemn sea
| T, the sands upon The shore
| Shall bloom the thunder blasted tree,
Or the stricken eagle soar
and all my days are frances,
And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy dark eye glances,
! And where thy foots,ep CLEANS
In what ethereal dances
By wha, eternal streams.
| Tho noanos breathe passionate sadness. relieved