New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-01
capabilities, but the power Of transplantins work
of genius with its original flavor into ioie'sn
language Is almost as raro gift as genius itseih


THOMAS \ BECKETT. A TRAGEDY a'D oInss WV WV
ny q. n. HoLLDTKh limo Vp w. bosom W. "
Spencer.
II required no small degree OF nerve for q modern
writer TO select passage from English history Us
the theme of drama. The romantic career VI 'ne
pebeian ecclesias,ic certainly presents ample na.
terials for An effective play, and the autnoi VI
Thomas a Beckett" without counting dangerous
COMPARISONS. has executed his task with very con-
siderable success. The chief fault to be noted ID
his production is it's too Uniform
often becomes stately and unimpassioned, Without
the spontaneous glow and artless grace OF the hig"'
est poetical nature. He has evidently bestowed
Great care upon the composition Of his WORK, giving
abundant proofs of an artistic spirit and ia'uhe's
to his IDEAL there Is no lack Of conscentous"esS'
no marks Of haste careless working; ana man!
passages cyinco genuine feeling, although the uie-
ton savors less Of poetry than OF rhetoric in'
answer Of Beckett to the king, when offered 'ne
Archbshopric. presents fair specimen oil The gen.
eral execution Of the tragedy.
ByCKET Nv sovereign lord. the weary ~usu'
would crush me.
Already do gruaD beneath ycuf bonhy'
Tie vilices Of chancellor were mnchi
Besides ! am provost ~ Bever!ry.
The dean Of Hastings, constable OF tire IoWeri
The Baronies OF Eye ard Berkhan, too
Rest in my keeplng.; and tie yours rrinee heni'
PIosumptye beir 81 England, IA my pupil
And looks TO me to mirror ~ bis eyes
Tge graees OF KING.
Yet more nv ~. hrth flaws
That shrcwd inspecting men, with biIlhg tongues
Would fail not TO make patent 10 the "o'io'
Again | never led q hcfmitS me-, =.
Nor shaved my heed. nor sahcaled y@ my 'eeh
TO co upon sanity pilgrimage ,
Nor felt the damp " cloisiers Tor 90 penahec
~ nffraug
Who for such elevation, needs rust Late no.
Nv culture IL In letters, knyhfly ieHts, .
Gaming and hunting, hawking. ho sen'an'nlh,
j have fought battles too, and shed meu D''oo'
AT Toulouse, ss your Majesty doth know.
And on the borders Of fair Normandy. ~
Where at my cost, kept twelve hundred Knighe-
lack the holy JUNCTION ~ life
Srpni In meek charities ard lov'ly duties,
Savoriug of ssnctiiy. My heart IL proud;
NV eur IL uckled with the applause OF sch"Ia!r
And ny eve bends Ia the nodding oi plume
live the wsr.cry of Plhningenct
Better than anthems riercng g0thlc fOois'
And the long wanC Of blrie note
Touches me more than silver brl- al ve'rers
The lau.n of peasant girls, proud allies slnilea
Are carer 10 me than The 6gas I nuns.
Whose learis keen time 10 ebu n rusaiics-
Pardon me, size. dare not take the see
The scene between Rosanond and the hing IN the
Woodstock cottage, and between Queen Eicanor and
Rosanoni ir the same place uro among tho most
spirited in the play. The IL erviews between the
king and Rosamond in the tower is described with
a good deal Of dramatic effect, and gives favora-
bic impression Of the ability OF the author. 10 the
closing scenes the interes. Of the plot begins to
flag, and the actual denoucnent hardly susiains tho
tragic ,onc adapted to the situetion.-The miSccl-
laneous poems contained in the volume exhibit
traces Of high poetic culture, and mary Of hem
present . happy combination Of sweetness and
I strength.