The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-30

II.
"'tO "V'h Gay.
Through Messrs. TAYLOR Il MAuRY, by whom
they are for sale in this city, we have received
copies of the following books, just published By
TIckNoR FIELDS, Of Boston, Mass:
PoENIs, by Matthew Arnold A and complete edition
boutwell,; a Poem in paris. By W Edmo 1sto,ne
AYrocN BY ID C. L. author OF Lays OF the s,ou,-h
Cavaliers, y" Bon Gsurier's Ballads Sc
CHARIcrSs. Dramatic Poem. BY the author Of I,ir,,
PLAYS AND PoEdS. BY George IL Boxer. Ia volume.
I2nlo.
SEED-GRAIN IT Thought ana Discussion: comp ai,or y
Mrs Anna C. Lowell author OF Theory OF Teaching"
&c. vo's.. l2no.
10 those who are not familiar with the issues
from the press Of Messrs. TIcKYoR & FIELDS.
we would in the outset say their books ara
among the neatest sent forth from Boston
Printed with care, in large, fair, loaded tyre
on smooth white paper, neatly put together and
of convenient size to hold, they are lust the
sort of volumes one likes to take up for pleasant
reading. Their selections, too, of English Lit
erature, are generally choice. To them we
are indebted for many reprints and collections
OF the best modern Englis!i authors. especially
Poets and Essayists, as well as for the works oC
some OF our own most acceptable writer's. The
list above given furnishes US with some such
specimens. We rarely find in three or four mod
ern pcetical authors more that is deserving of
notice, on account Of their literary merit. In
these volumes, our readers may recreate them
selves with numerous passages of rich poetry.
and these embracing selections on a variety If
subjects, and in different styles. Mr.. ARyoIp
Is, we believe, son of the late DR.. Arnold 20
we'll known, in England and elsewhere. az dis.
tinguished classical teacher, and head. o,astar
oil Rugby School. Mr.. Arnold seems to have
Inherited his fathers fondness for classical
studies, and his poetry bears indications of this
prediction. Ii is formed on such model. the
subjects are drawn from various fields. embrs.
cling also the Oriental and those of the DAYS of
romance and chivary, as well as of more recent
times In his preface, he gives his own views
OF poetry, abiding more particularly to al
earlier poem, not found in the present volume
In which he intended to deineate the feelings
OF one OF the last Of the Greek religious philos-
ophers, one of the family of Orpheus and Ma
sseus." This preface deserves reading for its
fine thoughts, however any may differ from his
conclusions. He argues strongly in favor of
his loved classical authors and gives them the
palm in more respects than one. He shows q
richly-cultivated mind and habits OF close OBJ
servation, with keen critical acumen and ap-
probation ofthe beauties the authors of whom
he speaks, in contrasting them with each other.
The same characteristics CLEAN out from his
own poems. Aside from their subjects, which
are well chosen, they deserve admiration for
many passages of rare beauty, felicitous image
ry, vivid painting of scenery, and description
of feeling. Many of the poems contained in
this volume, we read soon after they appeared
IN the English edition, but we are glad to see
that the present reprint contains a number of
additional ones, of the same stamp and char
acter. One great deficiency, we however mark
in his writings, and which is, alas a too COM
mon one with poets Of the present day. 1t
wants the lifegiving spirit of Christianity. He
is better acquainted, it would seem, with clas-
steal writers, with Persian fable and Runic lore.
than with the Book of God. At least, we miss
that informing presence of the Holy Spirit, to
which poetry owes its highest triumphs. Pa
ean antiquity has ts full tribute, its more than
deserved homage - Christianity none. We
could not but notice this neglect of source of