New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-16
THE TpUOGY OF SAUL.


THE TRILOGY OF SAUL.
SAIL. ADR.MA. IN THREE PARTS. BY CHARLES HEAVY
" sfGE- A New and Revised Edition. l2mo. PIP 4S6'
Fields. OsGOOd d GO. ~
The first edition of this work was published at
Montreal in 1851 but it was really introduced to the
literary world by a careful and appreciative article
in the .The North British Review for August lSoS
The trirIe drama, nevertheless, has hitherto been
known to a very limited circle of readers, and the
present issue therefore, has almost the character vi
a first publication
Mr. Heavysege conscientiously follows the history
Of Saul asiis related in the first book OF Samuel com
mepcng with the tenth chapter, but divides tue SUP
ect into three dramas The first of these eXhlDltsthe
fortunes of the Hebrew King, from his Amounting by
Samuel at Ramah to Davd's exorcism of the evil
spirit xvii 23,) and contains five acts Inc second
drama which contains only four acts opens with the
departure of David from the palace at Glbea repre-
SCENTS the defeat of the Phstnes at Elah and Saul
iealousv of David and closes with the marriage OF
David and Michal. The third and concluding poi-
ton makes up for the deficiency i'll form OF the sec
d for II has no less than sir acts. II presents the
nnrsnits and escapes of David, Sauls visit to the
witch of Eplor and the final battle wherein he ana
his sons are slain.
II is almost beyond the power of dramatic art TO
hiphen the interest of this grand and gloomy story
of Saul rs it is told in the old Hebrew chronicle MI
Ueayysege has not, therefore, been called upon 10
modify the narrative for the requirements OF poetry.
4 few subordinate characters have been introduced
for the purpose of developing the events OF Saul
career but they are never allowed to draw away to
readers interest from the hero OF the dramas Inc
authors inventive powers have been chiefly eAercsou
IN his management of the supernatural element lie
has availed himself of the expression an EVIL spirit
from the Lord" to add both good and evil angels to
op1t
introduced are not the least successful Sauls tor
mentor. Malzah, is moro Puck than Mephlst0-
nbelcs and he comes very near being line 0nglhal
creation.
The popularity of Mr. Heavyseges style is its racy
antique favor in which. nevertheless there Is no
trace of conscious imitation 1t reminds one Doth OF
the Elizabethan dramatists and the English OF inc
Ribe in its faults rs we'll rs in its beautles-n It's
turns of thought well as its freshness ana variety
of expression 1t would be difficult to ma ahotler
poem of our day free from any trace OF either c
thought OF the poetic dialect OF the times III when
WAS written The anachronisms, in this respect are
so few that after reading the volume, we recall Out
! one instance-where a Hebrew officer uses the WORD
| "romapticD The march of the verse is grave ana
sustained, without apparent effort, and its hnest
effects are produced with an air OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| which is rare among modern poets
We quote a passage from the first act Of tho first
drama: -
FIRST MESSENGER.
II ever blessing fell on man. may est thou
BE best our meant delyerer from shame;
For is not samuel with thee and WIN hiin
Is not the Lord, as once at EOen-ezeri
SAUL.
Go: will succor you.
' SECOND MESSENGER.
The winds OF heaven
Behind thee blow and on enemies eyes
May the sun smte tomorrow, and BIND them TOT Nee
But Saul, do not fail us!
Fail YET No:
Let the morn fail to break I will not break ~
| Let the morn fail the east; 1 ii not fan you,
But, swift aud silent rs the streaming wind
Unseen approach. then, gathering my force
| At dawnng, sweep Anmon. as Nights bass
sweeps down FROM Carmel on the muTsy sea ,,s,o,o.
We ii hear no further till our task be DONE
The supernatural characters speak, for the most
part in lyrical monOogue, and their fresh spightIy
and quantly original utterances contrast the more
strongly with the grave and almost severe character
of the unrhymed dialogue. Here is the voice OF an
angel after having performed his errand to Samuel
Swiftly let me now return
! To my shining seat on hlgh;
| LOT the breaking day II born,
| 10 the daydawn descry -
LET LIZ i me HR ike tRG isdS1 nj morn ng;
| Up the hollow darkness borne,
Up the hollow OF the sky =
< Through the melting shadows hie--
J Where the stars OF user shorn,
| In the light OF morning de-
| /, who ever star-like burn,
| /, who ever heaVCnward turn,
Let INC soon TO heaven draw nigh -
| There, with wings, my vlsage shading'
Midst effugcnc neyerfadng,
| "HOy holy holy !" cry.
! The "ovl spirit from the Lord appears to be a
playful and amiable imp, at times. After having tor
| mented Saul, he appears in the following scene:
| To be the vassals and the slaves OF music
| Il weakness that alicts all heayenbOrn spirits
| But touch whom with the murmnr OF a Lutte,
! Or swell and fll whom from the harmonious Tyre,
! And man may lead them wheieSOecr lie wills;
| AND SIS IA see deIuOnlaO
| Sit clothed and void OF frenzy IN begone,
| And take pOsy with me from Sauls garden.
lEra aud renters bearing huge nose0ay aud
| 49, Heredt snuDfnGl
Shall fling 1t In the earths face from whence TOOK IL
Albeit I'VE seem perhaps nowers as mean N sayen
| This il poor excuse for Aspbodel,
| And yet IL mas tine true divine aroma
| Here's ladsove, and the flower which even death
| Cannot unscent, the notwithstanding rose.
Here's gy flower aud yolets dark as eyes
OF Hebrew madens There's cODvOlyulus
That sickens and dies ere evening.
Here's monkey cap-Egad! 'twOud cap a monkey
I'D dy o n them ike TWO have crushed many
I've sadly mangled my lilies. II. Howe ygp here
Is the august camelia, ana here's lnarlgOld,,
And as think T. the bottom two vast sulllowers.
There some bluebells and pair OF fO1gloyes
| but not OF the kind that Samson's foxes wore);
wherewlth to prick my nose should grow sleepy.
o. I've not half enumerated them! a.,
Here's that, and that, and many trlfDg things,
Which, had time, and were the VEN for scandal,
l could compare TO other trifiing things
| But shall not.
We close our quotations from the volume with the
| last interview between David aud Jonathan:
JONATHAN.
| Dread hath this moment hold upon me- David
| And horror rounds me like dismal night,
| TIL am even timOrOus q child.
| Yea, for my children am timorOus
| IT'S for my offspring that feel dread
| For thou, at length. like ALL must be more,
And then thy children will DO found with mine,
sauPs hate remembered but my love forgotten.
Hence blame mo not for sore anxiety;
But swear, IN the strange name OF the unborn,
Hereditary friendship swear again:
Not for mine own sake, but for my dear chldrent
I'd bind thee " me doubly I'm oaths bonds.