The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-22
LxynRATuRn.
REVIEW OF VIEW BOoka

and concluding volume of "The Earthly Para
disc, by William Morris, published by Ro-
berts Brothers. This volume contains six
tales-'The Golden Apples, "The Fostering
Of Aslaug, 'tBellerophon in Argos" "The
Ring given to Venus" ''Bellerophon in
Lycia," and ''The Hill of Venus"-with
their prologues and epilogues, three short
poems upon the winter months, an epilogue
to the entire work, and ''L'Envoi," addressed
to the spirit of Geoffrey Chaucer, whom the
modern poet recognizes as his master. Taking
''The Earthly Paradise as a consecutive work,
it is one of the longest poems ever written,
and it is certainly astonishing, considering its
extreme length and the rapidity with which it
must have been executed, that it is 80 uni
formly good. Storytelling is undoubtedly
not the highest form of poetical art, but in
view of the moderate degree of success
achieved by most of the poets of our day
who have attempted great things, we can at
least afford to give unqualified praise to a
singer who is content with lower niche in
the temple of fame when his performances
are so thoroughly delightful as those of Mr..
Morris. The manner in which ''The Earthly
Paradise" is divided into twenty-four stories
or twenty-five if we include the beautiful
prologue-renders it easy reading for those
who would otherwise be appalled, by its
length; and the work, as it now stands COM
plete and perfect is a treasure house of de-
lights for generations of lovers of poetry.
There is no falling off in vigor or picturesque
ness in the concluding volume of this great
work, but, on the contrary, Mr.. Morris dis
plays a dramatic power in some of the
autumn and winter stories which was absent
from those contained in the first and second
parts. Among the six tales contained in this
last volume the palm must be given to the
two upon the story of "Bellerophon," which
indeed are to be considered as one poem. In
these Mr.. Morris has given fresh interest to
one of the most beautiful of the old Greek
legends, and bis 'Bellerophon" is itself
work that would make the reputation of any
poet. The most singular feature of this tale,
as it appears in "The Earthly Paradise, is
that no mention is made of the famous
winged-horse Pegasus, which is such pro-
minent feature of the old Greek story. We
are unable to account for this omission, and
cannot but feel that, admirable as the "Bel-
lerophon" of Mr.. Morris is, it would have
been better if he had followed the original
legend more exactly. Next to the 'Bellero-
phon' stories we rank the one entitled ''The
Hill of Venus, in which the beautiful Tam
hauser" legend is closely followed. The
interview between the Pope and ''Walter," as
Mr.. Morris styles his hero, is wonderfully
dramatic, and in its intensity and pathos it
proves that the writer has the
ability to be something more than
story-teller, if he chooses. The other stories
are fully up to the standard of those con-
tanned in the early portion of the work, that
entitled ''The Fostering of Aslang" being
especially beautiful, while "The Ring given
to Venus" is Ereally poetical version of
tale most abominably treated by Moore. There
are few verbal infelicities in the ''Earthly
Paradise" and Mr.. Morris in this work, as in
his Jason, shows a remarkable prediction
for the 'wan" as a rhyme for certain class
of words, as ''man," "can," etc. We cannot
undertake to tell how often this word is re-
peated, but it cannot fail to strike the reader
as being used far more frequently
than there is any necessity for.
1t is remarkable, however, that there
are so few indications of careless and hasty
writing in work like ''The Earthly Para
disc, which must have been written in haste.
The versifcation is at all times easy, flowing,
and graceful, and although the range of the
work is of necessity limited, it is so perfect
in it's way that but little fault can be found
with it. II would only imperfectly represent
the merits OF these poems to attempt to give
any extracts from them, and those who have
not already made the acquaintance of ''The
Earthly Paradise" in its earlier volumes may
accept our assurance that there is rare plea
sure still in store for them, and that the three
volumes which represent the finished work
contain the means of pleasantly beguiling
many leisure hours.
From Smith English we have received
the following new books published by Roberts
Brothers.
''Roman Imperialism and other Lectures
and Essays, by j. R. Seeley, NJ. A., author of
''Ecce Homo" contains much interesting and
practical matter in a limited space. There
are three essays on Roman Imperialism en-
titled respectively ''The Great Roman Revo-
luton, "The Proximate Cause of the Fall of
the Roman Empire, and ''The Later Empire. !"
This is succinct account of the reasons for
the rise and fall of the Roman Imperial sys-
tenn, and although there will perhaps be some
who will not agree with all the views of the
author, these three essays so admirably review
the whole theory of Roman Imperialism that
they cannot but afford some valuable hints to
every student of history. millions Political
Opinions" and "Milton's Poetry are discussed