The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-26

PORTLAND.
Friday Morning, March 26, 1859.
Literary Intelligence.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.


two volumes of poetry. The first of these is
the second and concluding volume of Brown.
ing's The Ring and The Book, in which we
have completed what must certainly be sci
down as the most remarkable poem of the age
This second portion of the story has all the es-
sential characteristics OF the first. The bold
ness, the vigor, the wonderful cOmpactness q
expression combined with an almost inter.
minable expansion of the theme, the strong
reasoning, the vivid painting, the daring
grasp, the shrewd wit, the subtitle power OF an
alysis, which displayed themselves in the first
part are all here; and here also are the same
obscurity, the same excess of verbal involu-
ton, the same roughness, the same lack of
unity and of grace which were apparent be-
fore. The story of the murder is again told
and retold, but we get at the sequel finally, in
the execution of Guido, and the restitution of
the perfect fame of dead Pompilia, both parts of
consummation devouty to be wished. To do
anything like justice to work of this kind
would require far more than the brief notice
Tor which we have space, and as for extracts
they can give no idea of its character But
long as the poem is, no thoughtful reader will
find it tiresome, or will wonder at the pro-
found sensation which it has created. Not
withstanding its responsiveness, its eccentrici-
ties and its obscurities it actually bids fair to
become the most popular of all Browning's
poems. (Received by Hall l.. Davis.)
In marked contrast to Brownings powerful
and gloomy story is Mr.. e. @. Stedman's poem
of The Blaneless Prince, which is issued as
companion volume. There is no roughness here;
all is sweetness and flowing, melodious grace.
The story is tender, sad and sorrowful, media-
val in its form, but modern and universal in
itschaIacter. The incidents will suggest Ten
nyson's sGuinevere," but Mr.. Stedman has
avoided the mistake of the Laureate who vul
garizes the moral of his tale by making the
sting of unhallowed love to come through de-
lection and shame. In The Blameless Prince
we have no such spectacle; the only punish
ment OF the guilty lovers is the consciousness
OF their guilt, and it is enough. The poem
shows careful finish, much power of melodi-
Gus expression, and a close observation and
genuine love Of nature. OF the shorter pieces
in the volume several are already among es-
tablished popular favorites One Of them ap-
pears on the fourth page of this issue. IRE
ceived by Hall L. Davis
From the Riverside Press OF Hurd &
Houghton, Cambridge we have The Indiap
Pass, by Alfred B. Street 1t is sort of half
historical, half-poetical account and descrip-
tion of the wild Adirondac region in Northern
New York, given by one who knows all about
that which he describes, and who has a genu-
inc love and appreciation n Of the picturesque
and beautiful in nature, and who, except that
he is too much given to writing fine, describes
well what he observes. (Received by Bailey
& Noyes) '4ss@t ~ a
Roberts Brothers, Boston, have added to
their "handy volume" series, Berthold Auer-
bach's novel of Edel,oeiss, translated by Ellen
rockingham. The "Edelweisse'' is a flower
of the genus Gaaphdliuna, not unlike our I" Ii fe
Everlasting which abounds on the cliffs Of
the Tyrolese mountains, and is peculiarly
valued by the Swiss maidens The name Sig
mites noble purity The story to which
Auerbach has given the name Of this flower
is considered one of his best (Received by
Bailey & Noyes.) ~ 80
Messrs. Roberts Brothers have.also issued, in
paper covers. Part I. of Auerbachs new ro-
nance, Villa Eden or the Country House on
tbn -Dl...s.--ss rs .svs , .----.--.--.-.-4
a mariaan pa~dcrs, as 1t deals to some extent
with American characters. Its delineations
of German life and manners are wonderfully
vivid, and its sketches of character extremely
well studied. The story is to consist of four or
five parts like the one here given. (Received
by Bailey 8 Noyes
very beautiful book so far as externals are
concerned is The Shakespeare Treasury, Just
issued by G.. P. Putnam & Son, New York
1t is prepared by DR.. Charles W. Stearns, and
consists of extracts from the works of the
great dramatist carefully chosen and classified
under different heads, each illustrating some
one of the manifold characteristics and powers
of his mind. A tolerable idea of the nature
OF this classification may be obtained from the
titles of some of the chapters. We have
groups of extracts illustrating" Shakespeare
Practical Wisdom" his Religious Senti-
ments," !" his "Epithets," his Military Knowl-
| edge" his Estimate of Women" his "Sym-
pathies and Afinities," Shakespeare as Q
Guide for the Young" "Shak espeare ever {
Traveller" and others. The book contains
also some half Q dozen essays on topics con
nected with the poet and his works. They arr
pleasant reading, and If they present Dothini
especially new they show at least that tn,
| writer has well studied his theme. Indeed
we may say that he has stadied Shakespesr,
almost too religiously, for he has come to re
gard him as final authority in all things, on'
from whose dictum there is no appeal Hi
book is however very useful one for refer
ence, and valuable contribution to on
Shakespearian literature. Its mechanical exc
cution is very nearly perfect. (Received b
Loring, Short 8 Harmony
Putnam and Son have added to their eli
brary OF European Literature" Amely Bolte'
Madame de Stael, translated BY Theodore John
son.. 1t is one of.the best of the innumerabl
historical novels which have been so much tn
rage in Germany of late years. It is rather
1 series of historical anecdotes romantically toll
than a connected romance; but it presents
very good idea not only of the remarkabl
CONAN who is its heroine, but of great nun,
ber of famous people with whom she was from
time to time connected. 1t is at any rate vast
i Iy superior to the melo-dramatic exaggeration
| the milk and water sentiment of the Mihl
bach novels The translation is passably good
| (Received by LoriDg, Short 8 Harmony
The same publishers have also issued in on
duodecimo volume, By Ways of Europe, b,
| Bayard Taylor,Sbeing the series of unique an,
charming sketches of travel contributed unde
that title to the Atlantic Monthly during tn
past year. The large number of readers VIII
have enjoyed these papers as they appeare
4 periodically in the magazine will be glad I,
have them in this form. They are perhaps th
best and most carsiully finished pictures o
travel which Mr.. Taylor has given us. Tn
collection is prefaced by familiar letter t
| the reader" in which the author pleasantl
deprecates the title of great American travel
Ter" which has been applied to him, though
| makes no mention of Mr.. Daniel Pratt. TIL
volume is dedicated to Horace Greeley. IRE
ceived by Loring, Short & Harmony
Virginia Graham, the Spu of the Grand A,
my lis the title Of a romantic tale by Justi
Jones, published by Loring of Boston, in hi
popular sRailway" series. It is full of Incl
dent, adventure and mystery, of wars danger
and loves sorrows. The story is quite spirit
edly told, and has the merit of fortunate
conclusion. (Received by Bailey 8 Noyes.)
/ Charles Scribner g. Co., New York hav
publshed a complete and unabridged edition
of Conybeare and Howson's Lite and EpisRe
of ST. Paul. work which has long been re
earded as one of the noblest contributions t
Biblical literature, and as one of the most ei
ficient helps to the student of the New Tests
ment It is issued In single octave volnm