New-York tribune., 1871-10-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

HROWNING'S BAIIAUSTION'S ADVENTURE.
BAIAUsTIoNs ApyENTuRE ISCLTpSG SDvpT p,ownxS TRSS
I7mo PIP. lS2 OsgoOd
The theme of this poem is derived from the cele-
brated classical legend which has been rendered
with such singular pathOs and beauty by Euripides
In the tragedy of Alcess, Mr. Browning has retained
in his version the spirit and force of the original,
parts Of which he has literally translated, while the
slight dramatic setting which be has used as |
framework for the poem enables him to represent to
a certain degree, his own personality in the charac-
ter of BalaustlOn.
This gifted Grecian maiden, whose name Slgnlnes |
the wild-pOmegranatc flower, is brought upon the
stage in the act of relating to her Young companions
the adventure by which she succeeded IN preserving
the lives of her COuntrymen and fellow passengers In
. ship that WAS exposed to imminent peril from
the attack of pirates. She anative OF the siano
of Rhodes which had taken side with Sparta IN the
revolt against Athens With romantic sense OF
devotion to her country, the young girl protested
against the secession, refusing to throw on Athens
for Spartas sake preferiug to die in that city OF
" life and light for the whole world and
lie Outstrctched
or Diomedes the Hippadai,
Before the temples ana among the tOnlbs,
Than tolerate % the grim felicity
Her clOqucnce prevailed upon company OF her
relatives to depart for Athens and sailing westward,
they were thrown from their course by an un1endly
wind and while still nuable to make out their situa-
tion were pursued by one of the pirate-barks that
infested the recian seas and in attempting to escape
nut in to an unknown harbor the neighbOring
coast. As they approached the shore the bright
enthusiast sprang upon the altar by the mast, and
sang "a national song. The land proved to be the
hostile port of Syracuse and the newcomers were al
once commanded hy the authorities TO leave the
place All suppcatiOns were III vain. As they were
about to turn and face their puISers some one asked
whether the young singer was acquainted win the
verses of Euripdes of whom the people of Syracuse
we're ardent admirers. BalaustiOn quickly repIics
that she knew Euripi0es by heart, and could recite
whole play from first last, especially that
"strangest saddest, sweetest song Of his, Alcesis
She tells them moreover, that she comes suppllant
to their own beloved god Hercules and demands 10
be placed upon the steps of his temple The pIoposa
was received with rapturous applause.
Then because Greeks Greeks, and hearts are
And poetry is powcr-thcy all outbroke
In great joyous laughter with MUCH love:
Make Re4S for I'll the barGoT Row: and lei Voice ring,
'In wc bringing more Enripldcs!
All the crowd as they lined the harDor now
We landed; the whole city, soon astiri
Tn the suburb temple; there they stationed me
o. the tOpmOst step: and plain toe lhc pay
And what saw or thought ] saw the while
Al our Kameros tlratcr clean scooped
Out OF IA hillside, with the sky above
And sea before our seats in marble row
Told il, and two days more, Tcpcatcdh
Until they way again
With good words and great wishes
Balauston then relates the sequel Of the adv venture
~ far as her personal experience was concerned
One wealthy Syracusan broughta talent of gold and
bade her take it for herself but she left it OH the
tripod in the fsue, thank offering to Hercules,
who had delivered them from death. But one hand
some young man whom she had noticed each day OF
The performance in the place at the foot 0 the
temple eagerly listening to her performance, was
found in the ship when they came to sail, " having
Nhunger to see Athens too" When the passengers
landed al the Prpus he stood at her side and it was
NOT long before the Youthful couple understood that
they were made for each other not only through the
Acting Of the drama but for the whole tragedy OF
life.
This pretty episode being disposed Of Mr.. Brown
Ing or BlausOn, or both-fOr is not easy to draw
The line of distinction between them-are prepared
TO enter upOn the main purpose OF the poem which
is to present the Alcestis of Eurpides in modern
fonn 1t s not easy to do justice to the subtle re-
Hnement OF conception and melody with which MIR
Browning has accomplished his cOngenia task. he
seems to have reproduced the soul Of the great tragic
poet with all his beautiful tenderness, and sad hui
man sympathes " his drOpping> of warm tears, i'll
Language as remarkable for its polished muscular
strength, as its fine rhythmical expression.
The characteristic passage Of the Arestis, in
which Admrtus gives utterancc to his despair after
he funeral of his wife. is thus presented;
And presently
In the mOurIerS from the funcral
one after until We hoped the last
Would lie Alkcotis and 50 end our dream.
t'nuld they have really left Akcstis lone
the wsy-ide scpnlcher! Home al save sue!
M A%G Gc TnSa & Adnf?' @ Tn fE hs' s sd lead and face
From the two hiding hands and peplOs fold,
And looked FORTH knew the palace, knew the hllls,
Knew the plains, knew the friendly irequence there
Aud 40 AlkCSlis any more Hgain,
Why the whole woe blllOwlike broke Oh him.
go hateful entry hateful countcnancc
o. the widowed halls he mOalcd What was Obef 7
Go there STAY hCrcl Speak not spcakl All was now
Mad and Impossible alike; one way
And only sane and safe-tO die:
Now he made aware how dear is death,
How loyable the dead arc, how the heart
Ycarns in 10 90 hide where they rcpOse,
When e find suUbcAuIs do no good TO
Nor earth rests rightly where our footsteps fall
His wife had been to him the very pledge,
sun should he sun, edrtb-rarth; the pledgr was
robbed,
Pact broken and the world was left world"
He stared AT the impossible. mad life
Into the utter dark, thy IalacerOrc!' -
They tried what they called comfort "to0<hed the
quick
OF the liberation In his SOUL" h said
With memUrics-" once thy JOY Wah thus and thus =!
True comfort 10 LET him fling himself
Into the hollow grave o the tomb, and 80
Let him lie dead along with all he loved
As the king arOuses to consciousness of the cow
ardice Of the act by which he had permitted Mcests
TO die in his place, he expresses himself in those
words of infinite sadness which are rendered fol-
lows:
Then AdmetOs spoke:
Turned Oh the comfort, with tears, this time.
He Was beginning To be Ike his wife.
told you of that pressure To the pOInt,
Word slow purhung word in monotone,
AlkeStis spoke with; so AdmetOs. now,
Gnl.w p1h hnHa Nha hNNAa nnAs sla Sh