New-York tribune., 1873-03-15
ocToN LITERARY NOTES.
A BOSTON POET.

8aVsL.. # IS likely 70 find out shy sensiuVeness
b. Of DIT. Parsons delicate seitrespeor oer
b ~ - eYclusiveness, have prevented him from
r. reu known, save 20 a favored ana discrlmina'
as . are many OF his brother poets; out the word
EtsN.,,,in claim on the possessor OF unusual gi'S
- shyes. genius has no right entirely 70 reiuSe
shl-.,sdre. I am democrat, perhaps communist
tN.,,tat I think that he who has a noble picture
S,vte picture lovers to 1t. freely; ne who can
- song should sing it 20 the world; and We no
-, know a poet should invite our fellows 10 look
II, psrtrait and take knowledge Of the influences
III ,s,ye helped TO make him what he Is.
-. william Parsons OF Dr. T. W. Parsons
a -n IN Boston, IN 1872 and az years OF axe eh'ero
II Boston Latin school. where he remained lor S1
T. A season Of study at home followed ana III 'I'0
--s OF 1886 he went abroad with his iatnel' ""o
- v,,rtor D,rtlv IN Pisa hut principally ID
p and Rome II would difficult 20 over-esu-
n "a Influence OF those months IN Florence on tue
- ,oetfe ardent and intensely reverent boy OF H.
IL .,.cei that he soiourned during the whoie oi MS
- that city in the house OF certain signoIa uul'
D,nu Under her roof he grew familiar Win 'ne
fr,s,n tongue. Perhaps the similarity OF haihe
p -. hostess and the immortal poet may have
,,s thing which especially drew his attention. IN
liz s,-iv days 70 the Dirina Oommed'd-at any rate
..,, that even then commenced the passionate
-, Dante which has been the enthusiasm OF Dr.
IS LIE and closely allied with his religion our
himself an Episeopalan. but he is as nearly Ro-
C,,,lc rs he well could be without absolutely step
+ie dividing line. Many Of his closest friends
- R5mish priesthood; and he understands Dante
- s-re Of spiritual quite much as Of intellectual
- Gracefully exquisitey. as Prof LOnCfelow
,o54red the great Italian poet into English his
n = .bserful. nineteenth-century temperament must
= The task harder. With his intellect ne appre-
II Kt D,,te. with his imagination he oOmprehended
,~. su--ually they could never have been NJ one.
~ p9. Oh the other hand. found himself spiritually
,.,r of kin 70 the sadTuscan. Himself of tempera-
III - -e.aucholy rather than Joyous, retiring as was
,s-,e broodnC. passionate. intrOverted he seemed
II "A bv nature 20 descend into the darkness OF the
II -, To mm It's penalties were real-with the VIC
III o,,t, t0rtures he walked and talked he worked
III aoViy and patiently at his task Of interpreter.
Llrs5mau" he once said, approach Dautes temple
,.po master OF his time :" and once being hurried
~ osb.ishsr, he returned. without the asked-for
"a this message q expect 90 be a student Of Dante
L. al eternity and therefore cannot afford to be
L. by the exigencies Of your house
II nan arr few things in literature more remarkable
- llYslty Of his-this absolute conservation OF
II oa. sta mind 10 the Interpretation Of another Dr.
II ,oss compares his Great Master 10 the Turk who
endure DO brother near the throne. " The mind be
III Hss,sss be viii have wholly; aud no one says tins
II Il Owing Of his students. need hope 10 enjoy
N-lfhY poetry or Dante WITHOUT IeslenluS ulul-
Il ,strcy 70 his sway" " Even IN this democratic
cry We must bear 70 remember that Dante is Of all
she most ar1stocratic in that he requires absolute
kince" Tie great Tuscan great poetry " is not for
Eusn of the world who seeks therein to enlarge or
H. his experience OF human nature IN It's ordinary
L. u presuppOses a religious belief, and claims for
pbe a Christian"
II Prisons published the First Ten Cantos Of the
,as" in 1s4s but he did not give the complete
fa0" 20 he public until 1867. when Il published
eRyues. Ibarra & Co.. BOston-an elegant volume.
d E Illustrations by Oore. The best critics have
gisd "a 10 Their highest praise 10 which any poor
,tG mine would he a needless addition.
Ilsoacnll poems Of Dr. Parsons-which are so care
II flushed tnat the hypercrtical must rejoice and
oart them so clear 20 ear and brain that ore
stake r meaning and so truly and delicately poeti-
tAai tc.r Warmest admirers are always 10 be found
koss yoets-have been scattered through various
k10Hcss and would probably never have been col
ksi,B I,1s form at all but for his wife. They have
kngup ike dOwers the interstices OF his busy life
rvsry busy iu various ways his life has been. After
Winter OF Italian dreaming under SgnOra Dautis
kstase roof he went 20 Paris. and afterward TO Lon
h aa8 10 the Autumn Of 1857 returned TO Boston TO
b usnce the study OF medicine The cares Of life
&s~d heavily upon hlm especially through hls early
raood and the Great Master at whose shrine he wor
ID has claimed all his leisure. Yet, from time 70
y volume OF his fugitive pieces has
coliecJsd-au the American editions however,
~ been printed privately, except partial col
n Published 10 1854 by TicknOr & Fields. Many OF
uue poems have reappeared. with various add
70 The Magnolia" printed IN 15G6. containing
fugQne poems only, in q" The Old House at Sud
D." printed 10 1870. and m The Shadow OF the ODE
n pu5lshsd last year in London. The Old House
siogry" is an exquisite specimen Of beautiful book
Frag Like all the others, 10 was arranged by his
=; ortis one Of the singular feiclties Of Dr. Par
ass o that he is not only married. but mated. Like
q BiEe and AIs Kate our poet and his wife can say
Es'o o.al working aud planning and dreaming; fOr
Pa'1ns enters thoroughly into the spirit OF his
9'stlsi she seems almost 20 aid them. The material
r-ae sending 70 publishers and the collecting into
H1es-s altogether her care. " The OLD House at
oay' contains picture Of the " House" where they
F.fipen, many Summers tOgether-where
aOB the broken hearth q stranger
Sits. and fances foolish things
ana The poet Weaves r0mdnces,
Which the maiden tondly sings
hihai 'clume, too We have the lines Upon a Lady
sas which for grace OF cOnceit and delcacy OF eX
'soa would be hard TO surpass in a days reading.
ssr'1iate the compliment at IT'S close:
vhrn ny sense returned. as the song wac Ger.
s-l Noald have said 10 her Sing 10 once more
II vso- son as she smiled, my wish forebOre:
80 euyugn 10 1er look found,
-'-s huah oi her lp seemed sweet as the sound
ne shadow Of the Obesk is one poem which
1Ped % quote, not only because It received
-n1ch delight by those who. like It's author. were
"a VITA the scene; but also because it is a revela
:" 'ae deep religious feeling which with DR.. Par
III 'aaefiss every mood Of mind. and lends its color
FFNs5ery vision
ST. JANEs's PARK.
Watched the swans IN that proud PARK
nLcu Engand's Queen looks out upon;
a There ull the dewy dark
900 every other soul was gone
AlQ sitting silent, all alone,
cihea TO hear spirit say,
" calm the NIGHT u.s.: never moan
tofiiendshlps that nave passed away.
'-r swans that vanished from tby -.:ht
WI come tomorrow. at their hour
Hhen 10y JOYS have taken flight,
~ oung them back prayer hath power.
u. ne worlds law ana why deplore