New-York tribune., 1869-03-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS
sTEnMAN,s BLAMELEsS PRINCE .

IN the poem, from which TINS 'oluIio
name the theme is similar to that ol 1aWlhoIhos
Scarlet Letter. showing tho influence Oh secioU
unlawful passion on characters OF spOtless reputation
before the world The struggle between INC il-
nnlses of affection and tho remOnstrances OF duly
affords an admirable subject for dramatic enecb anu
Gives scops in the subtle analysis of feeling as wen
os to the brilliant cooring of poetic lmagiha'ion'
Mr. Stedman has for the most part, hitherto eeio0'9o
Iinaterials from incidents more especially adapted
"a lyrical and descriptive representation WInouV az
tempting to sound the depths of passion OF 10 CUM
bine the tragic element with his airy and graeelui
co,ccptiops He has shown himself indeed skill
ful master Of tho tender and patheuc "sPec'' ~
bnman experience but he prefers TO hhger III 'ne
.prnv maths of fe rather than to pierce the IoresV
shades and the Iurd glare of criminal lnuuigehCe
presents few enticements to his genial nature IN
thc present work he has tried bolder flight clothing
the secrets Of tragedy with q shining vail of poetry
and adjoining the dark and subtle workings OF nature
in defiance Of the wholesome restraints OF position
and society. .
The scene Of the poem opens with description OF
tbe fnir realm of medieval queen, over which she
had reigned for few years, winning the heaItS Oh
her subjects hy her gentleness and beauty to out
vyard app,arance Qucenly in walk and gesture ana
sttre;" Rut
Within she uursed the flower OF maid maidenH;oou' o;ro
sSeet E s,,Irem 'a when her councillors began to
snoak of marriage and besOught her mott uus1
the Tenure of an herleSs throne" The people looA
mn the cry, and suitOrs came from lar anu heSi'
.ssO,i(t upon the track rs huntsmen closing fouhu
ro,al deer" and eager as the aspiTants for ONCE
around the new President in the capital she heeueu
not their urgency, and still chung TO hef Heouoln
"onong her maids and mssas.p At last the memory
of Il Young pruce of whom she had been pay mate
in her childish days, began to touch her maiden
fancy Ucr pares carried 10 his ear tho sweet ana
,ocret story y and at the close of the Summer the
,annon's boom and belfry's pea" announced the
,ueen betrothal to the realm, and day was set lof
he nuptial rites.
ON his Journey to the capital, the favored prince
reached a couutry-seat in the neighborho0d, Whele
40 was to rest while from travel and await the Hay
,ppouted for his entrance to the city. An old cham
Derain Of the court, "yOked with girlish Wlie'"
whose home was here took charge OF the royal
vuest. coming out to meet him, with all the house
nold in procession At the front, "a peerless woman
rode across the green and the lover at first thought
that it was the Queen herself who ont oI her loving
grace" had come to give him welcome
And his blood mounted; but he knew how fair
He saw the ady's prodiga dark hair
And wOndrOus Oyeliness were wide apart
From the sweet, tranquil picture ue1t lis near"
And when the chamberlain with halted sult,
Made reverence, and was answered eourteouswlse'
The lady to her nightly guests salute -
How dew gray, beneath each long. black ia,
And danger somewhere in their Hght lay ma
With the meeting of their eyes the poison at once
began to work The old public functiOnsry was oil
every morning to arrange the business OF the mar
rjage opportunity lent strength to fascination, until
Beneath the mists Of duty and degree
A warmth Of passion erept delclousB
About the twain; and there. within the gleam
Ofthosc gray langud eyes, ms nearing fate
etS1VSb so when m fbe Ieraids said All things await
Your prlnGey coming tne GaG stp1e
And walked him, and he knew be must be gone
And put that honeyed chalico quite away.
A parting interview disclosed the mutual secret to
each other; their eyes told what they could not say
They talked of the strange beauty OF the spot,
Tie light that glluted through The ancient trees,
Their own young lives, the Princes future io3
Each other and themselves they sweetly stgng
They sung fond and mOckcd the words they sung
At last he hung his picture by . chain
About her neck, and on II grAved the date.
Her merry eyes grew soft with tender pam;
Our lives like ships at an instant meet,
Then part forever on their courses heet!
And IN sheer pity Of herself she dropped
Her lovely head and though with sell she stroIe,
One hot tear fell. The shadow, which had stopped
On her life's dial moved again, aud Love
Went s0bbng by, and only LEFT his wrath;
For both were loyal 10 their gived faith
The prince took leave in the morning the marriage
VOWS were made with due pOmp and pageantry, and
be entered upon his life with fond admiration of
bis bride, "the paragon and glory of her kind" and
worthy of her choice.
Who reads his own heart will not think II strange
He put that yester romance from lis mind
50 readily. Mems lives, Ike oceans change
In shifting tides ana ebb from either shore
Till the strong planet draws them Oh once more
As the months rolled by the young prince cast
away his sclfdistrust faithful love was in the
ascendant with the gracious psir; the queen was
glad; peace smiled and wide cOntentment filled the
land. The prince was subjected to the scrutiny Of
Jealous eyes but no flaw was found in the stainless
purity of his nature.
A brave simplicity OF soul
And careless vigilance, by honor bred,
STAYED him, and o'er his actons held control
A host OF generous virtues stood In stead
To help him on; with patient manliucss
Ue kept his rank, greater and no less
His life was a Iinpid rivuIot;
His thoughts Ike golden sands, were through il seen,
Not on himself m poor ambition set,
But on his chosen country and the Queen
And with such gentle tact he bore sense
OF conduct due, nor took nor gave Oncnse,
That as time went he earned their trust, who first
Withheld it bin, and brought them, one by one,
To seek him for q cOmrade; but he Aursed
HIS friendships with such equal care that none
Could claim him as their own; nor was his word
OF counsel duiled by being often heard;
Nor would he suly his fresh youth among
The rOIstercrs and pretty wantOn DANES
Who strOye 10 win him; nor with rtbald tongue
Joined in the talk that round palace names
Meantime the wife of the gray-haired chamberlain
continued to cherish the remembrance which had left
sradiant light upon her path. Her love was framed
about the likeness of the prince.
Some, forsOOtb,
MAY shift tLelr changefn worship as they rove,
Or clowns princes; but her fancy slept
Dreaming upon that picture which she kept
secret pal1 and pleasance. WIN WhaL slnIe
Men sought her love she wist not, for the pilZe
Was not for them. She lived dutcOus life
II was something thus 10 Jet her constant eyes
Oh an ria zee fg lQ e.