New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-19
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And the Eov err that kiss her feet.

1.-The Ballad of Babe Christabel," which gives the
volume its name Is the longest in the collection, but
aot more Characteristic OF the poets peculiar genius
than several of the shorter pieces. It commentaries
the brief life of much.loyed child in terms borrowed
by grief from poetical exaggeraton We cannot THINK
that such glowing sensuosity Of phrase is in harmony
with the theme or that the widest throes oil
parental sorrow find fit expression in su IN tumult OF
imagery. The dirge which is in different measure
from the rest ofthe poem, forms an exception to these
remarks and approaches nearer to the simple tender
mesa of language in which the deepest emotion seeks
to End, at best an imperfect utterance
TIE BALLAD OF BABE cHRIsTABEL.
With her white hands claspt she seepeh, heart hHsht
and lips cold
Death shrouds up her heaven of beauty and weary
Like sheep without Shepherd on the wintry norani
void,
With the face of Day shat on, by binding
DER its wdowd my heart sits moaning for Its young
From this world ofws and weeping, gone to join her
And nv Iisbt Of fes oer.hadowd where the dear one
lcth dead
And m crying in the dark with many fears
All last nght-tdo she seemed me, like lost beloved
Bird
Beating at the lattice louder than the 'oooins VINO anu
rain; -,
And calrd across the night with tender name and fond
And yearn'd out thro' the darkness, all in vain.
Heart will plead, Eyes cannot see her: they are D1hd
with tears Of pain; -.
And climheh up and treneth, for dear life, To LOOK
and hank
And it droppeth down, and doth IN ,he DARK
None but the sternest or most narrow minded crit
les will doubt that Gerald Masseyis born for poet
His quality will be easily perceived from our quota
tions which we prefer to leave TO readers own
feeling than to indulge in any superfuous comments
He possesses q tecmng Imagination, which luxuri'
aes in all the elores of the outward universe appro-
priang them to his particular purpose, without any
fastidous severity of selection or exquisite sense OF
eshetc harmony. In the plentude OF his iancles lie
often becomes confused piling metaphor comparison
and reflection on each other in brilliant and dazzling
promiscuousncss His illusions OF sentiment modu-
late TO excess in the material order Even IN his m0st
ardent out-pOurngs of love, the exquisite ideal union
which cOnsecTates all true passiOna relations, iades
into dim perspective compared with the raptures OF
sense His most striking descriptive passages lose
the delicate finish of the artist in the turbulence OF
emotion A certain wild barbaric spendor shines
through his verse: but il is not illuminated by the
beautiful harmony of coorng which eyinces the per-
poetry, Gerald Massey may anticipate bright career
among the modern masters of song. His faults are
those Of extreme youth. Of disproporton between
his Imagination and TASTE and ola want of the nter
or experience which is given only by years of conflict
ycisstude toll reflection, and enjoyment His merits
repose on substantial basis. Ilepossesses gifts which
are rarely accorded even to the most favored OF NOR
tails; he is an acknowledged favore of Nature; and,
under her genial training he may hope for the attain
ment of depth and expansion which will throw the
present extraordinary productions into the shade
His destiny, we trust is written in his words of
hopeful cheer: For myself, have only entered the
lists and inscribed my the race has yet to be
run Whether / shall run IT, and win the Poets
crown or not time alone will prove, and not the pre-
dction of friend or foe. The crowns OF Poetry are
not in the keeping Of Critics There have been many
who have given some sign Of PROMISE ust set rain
bow of hope in the dark cloud of their e-and never
fulfilled their promise; and the world has wondered
why. But ii might not have been matter of wonder
if the world could have read what written behind
the cloud Others, again, songul in youth Ike
the niehngaesin spring who cease to sing, be-
cause they have to build nests their young, and
provide for them; and so the songs grow silent the
heart is full of cares and the dreamer has time to
dream. / hope that my future holds some happier
fate. l think there is work for me to do and
trust to accomplish it,"