The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-06-15

Three Books of Song. By Henry Wads-
worth Longfellow.
Mr.. Longfellow's latest work ''Three Books
of Song" will be warmly welcomed by the
thousands to whose hearts his writings have
SO surely found their way. The first ''Book"
is the second day at the Wayside Inn, con-
tinuation of the poem published about eight
years since. 1t opens with the description of
a rainy morning at the Inn, and the autumn
nal landscape. seen through veil of gray mist
and falling rain is painted with artistic chiaro-
scurO.
The company at the wayside Inn-the
Sicilian, the Poet, the Musician, the Theo-
logian, the Student, the Spanish Jew and the
Squire, continuing their device of the previ-
GUS evening, relate stories to while away the
slow hours of the rainy day.
The Sicilian first tells the story of the
Knight of Atri's horse, who, turned out to
shift for himself after years of faithful service,
pulled the rope Of bell, which the king had
caused to be hung in the market-place of Atri
in order that any who were wronged might call
together the people, and make the grievance
known. The Spanish jew follows, with
strange oriental story, told in brief language,
like the flash of a scimitar. From this dusky
the students Story" to the German village
of Hagenan, where the worthy cobbler reads
Hans Sachs and sings his quaint song, full of
shrewd philosophy, over his lapstone. The
sure instinct of the Musician makes him
prelude upon his violin, leading, through its
inarticulate modulations, to his wild northern
legend of the Carmilhan, which, although
original and characteristic of Mr.. LongfeIlow's
style, recalls strongly the 'Ancient Mariner"
in its general treatment Then the Poet tells
the charming New England idyl Of the little
barefoot, Martha Hilton, and how she became
the governors lady. The Theologian gives
the mystic and medieval Legend Beautiful"
The Squire, difident Of his narrative powers,
is not to be found, 50, at the general request
the Student relates the romantic tale Of the
Baron of ST. Castine and his Aeadian bride
The rain eeases-the sun breaks forth, and
a fresh west wind from the hills clears away
the mists. The storm Is over-the stories are
told.
The tragedy Of "Judas Aaecabeus" :
grand in its stern outlines and stately meas
ure. The powerful scene when the mother,
outside the dungeon OF the citadel, hears
within the voices Of her tortured sons, would
be too sad IN its dramatic intensity but for the
dignified and noble moderation Of the poet,
who in this follows the ancient models Of
tragedy. The following scene where the
mother encourages her only living son TO die
rather than give up the belief Of his fathers,
is sublime in faith and pathos. The warlike
Judas Maccabseus and the tyrant Antioehus
are drawn with strOug touch.
The choice Handful Of Translations"
which form the third Book Of Song-some
from the Armenian and Tartar languages, are
gems which Mr.. Longfellow's skillfnl hand
has polished and set. Among them we are
glad to find Filicaja's sonnet .To Italy," SO
familiar 20 the lips of all Italians and ex-
pressing so beautifully the mournful and pas
sionate love they bear TO their country, which,
through so long a night Of oppression, is COM
ing to the light of liberty.
Some of the poems in this volume have
already been given to the public through the
columns of the Atlantic Monthly and have
been extensively copied by the press; but
this will by no means decrease the interest
felt in their present collective form.
Published by James r. Osgood & Company.
II Vi ooiC W AhA LIZ LAWS.
A SEVEN MONTHS RUN, UP AND Down
AND AROUND THE WORLD. BY James
Brooks. ID. Appleton & Co., New York.
Mr.. Brooks signature is an assurance of
interest, which is fully borne out by this Sc
ries of bright letters, written to the New York
Daily Express. In his preface the writer
says: "These notes thus scribbled and thus
mailed, have no literary merit, of course
are not intended to have any, and if they are
good for anything it is because they were
penciled and mailed on the spot, fresh and
Photographic, thereby" In the words of
distinguished contemporary editor, ''Mr.
Brooks is very elegant and scholarly man."
and although the present volume is written in
the lighter vein of journalism, it by no means
lacks the charm of the more serious produc-
tions OF his pen. The book is exactly what it
purports to be-a series of rapid and of-hand
sketches, which the writer has noted with
the keen eye and graphic pencil OF the Prac-
tised and brilliant journalist. Starting rom
New York, by the Pacific Railway, Mr.
Brooks included in his route Japan,
China. India and Africa, crossed the Medi-
terranean to Italy, and after visiting Paris
and London, returned to America. For sale
by Bailey & Noyes: :,
"Crossing the Atiantic," is the title of a
series of amusing and splendid sketches by
Augustus Hoppin, lately published by
James R. Osgood & Co. Every one who has
made the passage across the Atlantic viii
recognize the truthfulness of many of the
scenes here represented, none of which are
lacking in artistic merit. Mr.. Hoppin has a
quick eye and ready hand, and has seized
on the humorous side of his subject with the
relish of man who finds the study of his
''kind'' a pleasing theme; many of his por-
traits are admirable, and there is dash of
poetry in his pencil which crops out atunex-
pected turns. We commend these animated
sketches to all lovers of American art. For
sale by Bailey and Noyes.