New-York tribune., 1872-05-24
TIE VISION OF THE FAITHFUL.
LIPPINoorrs MAGAzINE June. J. 3. LlppInoott q Co.

LIPP1ECoTTs MAGAZINE June J. B. LppincOtt Co.
The June number of Lippincot continues the
"scrambles amongst the Alps which have given the
writer Mr Edward Whymper so conspicuous place
among the venturesOme mountain climbers in switzer
land Heaords much pleasure to the reader by his eo
suent descriptions he appears to have enjoyed himself
IN his perOus ascens An excellent piece OF literary crlt
cism by Mss Kate Hnlard is devoted to Pierre ROnsard
the old French poet who made his appearance in the
literature France the first half of the sixteenth CEN
tury when the world waking TO the new day Of
The Renaissance" The parallel between Ronsard and
Herrick is happy conception, and less artificial In
its execution than most parallels OF the kind.
'ex years after his death there was born on the other
ride OF the Channel his nearest English counterpart
Robert Herrick But Herrck possessed the great ad-
vantage finding his materials ready to his hand; he
did notave tomake the words which he was 10 sing The
noble English language at the very acme of its splen
dor when he ready to use it, the songs OF Shake
speare Of Beaumont aud Fletcher OF Ben Jonson, the
most exquisite lyrics in literature, sti ring
ing III mems ears; the lutte was strung and tuned,
and Herrick had but 20 wake anew its still
vibrating chords His mastery Of rhythm as great as
Ronsards. but his poetic genius is Of lower order
Both had studied under the masters and partcu-
lary AnacreOn; but while find them translating the
same odes, the versions Of Ronsard are marked by
keener and finer thought. They sing the same dainty
dttes Of love- tempered by gentle pagan sadness they
are fun of delicate turns Of thought expressed in perfect
melody and nothing surpass their sweet and fanci
full grace. But ROnsard's imagination has lOftier
flight than Herricks fancy; there is more
dignity and depth in his sweetness,
subtor pathos in his tenderness The cheeks
like cream encareted and the roses mised O'er with
lawn OF Herrck are exquisite concets, but how much
finer Ronsards line 'VOstre TENT sentot encore son
fance II ID pretty idea Of Herrick to sing Of those
babies your eyes, their crystal nunneries' but We
prefer Ronsards lie doux languir de ses yeux What
be perfect than his picture Of the dreaming
maiden with eyes, toute amus6e avecques
pensee, his sly touch of Chaucerlike humor in his
sketch Of the coy eoquette who flies but to be
Je lure Amour que vOus estes 81 fine,
que pour mourir, de bOuche ne diriez
Qu'on vOus baisast bien que lie desiriez.
Both poets profess the same Epcurean philosophy
the enjoyment Of life while it lasts, because after 1t
comes the grave and darkness. Gather We rosebuds
while We may old Time is stll ahying,' sings Herrick
aud Ronsard tells the thing to Cassandra in this
little song:
Darling! look II that blushing rose
That but this morning did unclOse
Her crimson vestments 10 the sun,
The fine folds Of that vestment rare,
And that bright unting like your own.
Alas! even in this little space,
Darling we see o'er all the place
Her scattered beauties strOwn!
O stepdame Nature, stern and hard!
That cOuldst not such flower nave spared
From morn till eve alone!
Then. darling! hear me while sing
Enjoy the verdure OF your Spring,
The sweets OF youths short hour:
Gather the blossoms while We may,
For youth Is gone ike yesterday
And beauty like that flower!
This is the moral Of many verse In roth poets, 1t is
te but Ronsards treatment Of love is far noble
and dignihed than that OF Herrick. With the English
Anacreon love either passion, of the earth earthly,
an xquse conce wherewith 70 inspire pretty verses
the only poem that remember with any real vigor
and nobility of feeling being the verses addressed TO
Anthea who may command me in anything Ronsard
though ministerng occasionally TO the worst tastes
OF his time, preserves in nearly all HE love
poems a manliness and delicacy that
hance their richness He neither rails at his
mistress when she is cruel, and forswears her,
roves the dust at her feet but submits with patient
dignity, bidding her remember that day, when,
very old and feeble she sits spinning through long
Winter evenings by the light OF her taper will per.
haps recall Ronsard sang of her when was
young and fair; and then, when he Is dead and gone
and she crOuchDg over the fire, she will sigh TO find
her faithful servant longer at her side, and will
renent too late her hardness and his sorrow. ."-Mr
Charles K TuckermAu, under the title Of "The Great
Idea" contributes instructive paper the present
condition Of Greece, subject which from his Official
residence in that country, he is qualified TO discuss
pecular advantage. The Great Idea" is component
mart OF the Greek character peryadng all classes OF
society from the infant who draws 1t In with the
mothers milk the old who drinks its success in
long draughts his native resned wine although II be-
longs to the Of fancy rather than OF fact Briefly
Aeaned this idea the conviction that the Greek mind
k 10 regenerate the East that 1t s the destiny Of HELEN
sxa 70 Helleaize the stretch of territory which
che Greens claim az their own by natural laws
In TIE spnaon of Mr. Tuckerman, II England
ssa ysanss Asa openly spssurssss Ne aspirations