New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-27
NEJV PUBLICATIONS..
rrv,NDER SMITHS NEW POEM.

L.
49,. chasteuess of illustration, ana ha'uf@
,n.l,by expression, this poem must certainly DO
..na,5sa as an advance the former ProdDc'
- Of the author. The plot, which is founded
ODe Of the old Anglo-SaJOD chronicles con-
o.r,iog the introduction Of Christianity into
Britain under Gregory l., 10 Of the most meagcr
character, containing few situations that clairn
ps sympathy Of The reader, and is wrought up
with scarcely any professions TO dramatic ehect,
40 lively interest "a awakened IN the fortunes Of
che chief psrsOnSges Of The story, who, ID fact
.erys rather as lay-Ggures for the illustration OF
q ceres of interesting accessories, without when
tire poem would be- deprived of its principal
sources of attraction. Edwin aud Bertha '"rln
AZ apparent bond Of unity between the i'agne'i''
ary elements Of the narrative; but they psoScn'
no traits Of character t0Bt win the hearI VI
stamp themselves on ibe memory; ana tney arc
indeed. often lost sight Of amid the epIsOdical
descriptions which fascDate both soul aud sense
by their meloduus beauty. The style OF versitl-
cation, as well az the general cast of the story,
d too completely formed on the model of Ten
pyson to permit an enthusiastic belief 10 the Gre
alive power Of tue author; but had Tennyson
peser written, nor presented such shining mark
fir the imitation Of his admirers, it would be no
faint praise that would do justice to the sweet
pcss, and grace, and impressive imagery which
spread u genial attraction over almost every page
Of the poem.
The following description of d feast in royal
castle makes an effective use Of the crcumstan-
ces that are familiar to every lover of antigua
ran lore:
Tbon Edwin stepped
Across the dogs that lay upon The floor,
With d Owry muZZleh on their Oufsiretched pawFJ
on starting into voice II they cbAsed
AID bay ed The boar in cream, and TOOK his seat
On she right LRud Of Redwald, 'niong bis SONS,
4 kn ,doms strength upon battle day.
4 lordle,t game OF forest ana ol blI
Made that board paradise, with whose smef
The phoenix appel te dlvi0ely died
Into a rarer lite Sheep, steer, and noar,
Aud ,tags that on the mOur Sain took the dawn
Hish 0 The ising speDdors oi the mists
We're penteOufly there. All fowls thai pierce
An wedse or caravan the lOlely ky,
AZ wiuter SLEEPY whistle, beaped the feast;
Win berODs k pt for kings, and swans that float
Lie Wster-lilles on I! . CLASSY mere.
Nor tirse alone. All fish Of glorious scale,
TIE fruits OF English woods, ano honey pure
Slow o.ziug f,om It's labyriutline cells,
Aud s,acoGs horns Of sead, the blessed mead
Tnst G u uDpack she laden beart OF care
T1sl climhs heated reyeller to the brain,
Aud .iis there Il iging songs. AID seated high,
Mid IUrrl es' glaze and ylinimer, miusIrel- sang
Mailed goOs OF war, grim gauis, kings who walked
u tie gray dawn aud morning light OF lime
ia ued like towers; kings Whose hue bulks OF bone
Urmouldered, yet are refill III twilight caves,
Like some old galley with It's se,-wOru rlbs
bal sunk IN ancient SANDS. And while they sang
Ut blsz ,Ied banners streaming Oh the wind,
OF arrows splinter oil the brHzen breast,
Swords red from point 10 hllt,-Vf trumpets blown,
Shred srmor, nodnderng horse, cries Of men,
TIE Ii hit OF battle burned III every eye,
shouts Uurst FROM bearded hPs teiTenbed with mead
SWORDS aud cuirasses rustlng On the wall
Catered ss lie we're IN u'em. 80 the teas',
Led Oy the mlns'Iels' sealing voice, and band
IN Jury InoHg the hsfPs'nngs, roared, nj dawn,
Let through a loopbYls, 4 II ON torches burned,
Tie upset gotltts u tDe deep debaucb,
Lo,ds .mol,d Oh he raSnes.
A huoting party il always q laSorite subject
win poets and romsnoers, no less than painters,
ana Mr. Alexander Snitb gives rather fresh
soioripg tO a scene which has been described
SlmO 10 safety:
s. when t1e light was springing in the east,
CBkeBnelled stagbounds bayed, mems voices rose,
SieeOs aw ed clkei their brides Then, equipped
t. huhIia -, eur, PTiure Edwin aid tie rest
Tnoped 10th with spirits gay rs their atIirei
And with the dawn, aid Ike another dawn,
bot iareT Bertha caIne. AMID tie dogs
q
b. cd Oh the hIll tops prcdi1al OF light,
They rode win wOndrUas Il alter LIelr way;
Anu ever as they Ia, tier jcy our base
Skiied NJ 10 esl, creed 81 allow Stfeam,-
L. which tue sun had brown q spear thai lay
Golden Oh amber pebbles,-pnshed DER heath,
lie sound at gsSly lrhVskd Oh before
Woke ali ti,iuKs ere they cane. For when afaI,
AT instance vi trrOng-lunged forester,
TIE saGden bsRie OH toe rosy cliff
" rs spiin'ere0 lnlo echOrs from the marsh
TIE heron screaming roe; within biz wood
lie IDUuhtaln bun stOod llsieIiGg H. the sound
Silent as lowering thunder, When the Winds
AIe cbOked, and hang dead anu from bis lair
kls-, with dew eppled hsnks the stag aid snufed
Their COMING Ia TIE wind, n Nom ns stood,
iiis .peed IN al biz limbs; buI when the pack
Dragged Ri,h then own the eel o-s o tie vale
Ana opened oui, fed win snleTs lAid
Along his back Ike ears. Hsl"O ahd horn
oss the. upUb the breeze. Now IN lis fight
by hyg wood, Der wstos, tLro sireaus That spasbed
hLeh er The sS1die-girtiIs TIE hume hung
Aus ever, u II slowly burning fr-,
Consumed We space betw en. AID, ar il mapped,
Wien the lncieaibg ,uB grew hOi anu stroug
Ia En ingenious whiIl OF rloImy cha o.
lhe Prince ana Bertha were aliSe thIogn out.
Tie ret drew II rein, for now Tie troop,
hhh long haired kegDer Tar In tie advance,
Wa pfessirg haru uIOn the weary brGe,
bOse antius, black with sweat. Around d cTag,
Tut WITH It's gloomy IiDee e,hung th- vale,
bsept bunt aud sun or out Of oilht and soabd.
They were alOre, and Ia the nuddeD calm,
When round ih The nurnur VI the woods
DiOn d b" eel l"B slgu OI summer Nln0,--
. IA uient dyi cymbsPs clash
memory enough ~ sw eete, death -
lbe uHeN pc ,teo solitude surprised
hs heart 10 utter-noe, and The Princess sat
BunOed and criniron an Toe opening rose
Ita' ieels yet nVt day. Then, willie the wind
10 his quick heart grew eIill, ana every lsai
hss ~atchiul ear AID eye, tie pre.s.d 10 lips
Upon tue iarvst band la I'll the world
Uucc. That instant, like All rnviOns fate
That ru.bes through, discovering ehnging joys
A distah,e-Iuits1 1uele ran. q msrt