New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-09
BOSTON,.


ao..,or IN TRoUBLE-LoNDON LYRCS-A PLEAS
,yr sNGER-THE SPIRIT OF EASTERN POETRY
,~aov , REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
RosroN May Elm May all the birds begin
a sing and In compliment TO the season, our pub
Yshers are getting ready their books of song James L.
osgood Co. about to issue two volumes of poems
by Robert Buehanan-the first two, Of five volume edi
mon of his works From the house the proof
sheets Of Miss II. r. Hudson's Poems" Roberts
Brothers are just issuing new and considerably en-
lsrged edition OF the Rev. Mr. Ayers Poetry OF the
ORIENT" and new and cheaper edition Of Miss Pres
tons Translation OF Mistrals lovely ProvenGal poem
"Mreio" Here be songs enough for whole nation OF
singers and all these volumes well worthy OF aen
ton The two by Mr.. Buchanan are, perhaps the most
noteworthy.
Robert the Rhymer, has had many troubles; among |
them the and progress OF "Ihe fleshy oohooi0
Poetry" as he delights TO call swin0urne ana Ms CON
srsrs but one OF his mseres is that as he says
the Americans do know him at his best; the poems
IN which his own heart most delights not having Deeh
hitherto repubhshed on this side the water. For MS
Vrietabout 1.-THE Fleshly School," there appears to 10
no remedy; since critic is not yet allowed to put 10
death his nadurdS syes; but for the other gref tns
ortheoming multitudinous edition Will supply healing
balm portrait Of the author fronts the ttlepage;
portrat which somewhat reminds me OF John FISK inc
philosopher Of Evolution It's the face OF man o
power, and in earnest; though lett 10 ioyselI
rhould not have guessed it TO be the face oil poet ho
wears sneetacles and fun beard, and he writes ms
name with free bold hand. The prose worEs py WHICH
he willing be represented are to be moulded Id Vnis
new edition. but the two volumes now nearly ready are
OF poems alone. Mr.. Buchanan announces that nc pro
noses TO include in this edition ali those OF his poeucal
writings hitherto published, which his maturer
Judgment approves, with the addition OF many
now printed for the first time And he Is certainly
writer all OF whose poems one Is Interested 10 see NV
that they are all and universally good but mat ne is
true poet and scatter some pearl OF purest ray
serene which one would not care to ose on any page
He is poet too, of most various imagination where
eopd be found stronger contrast than between inc
dramatic simplcity and the carefully studied 1alt1ui
ness 10 the details OF common lie IN lis ho"uV
Lyrics" and the weird supernaturalness ana shosuS
gloom OF such o legend as The Ballad Oh 0uu"s
Iscariot ~ This last by the way, is striking poem
Snd,one which I. at least, have never seen pelOie
.boueh IL NAV have been reprinted in some American
publication with which am not familiar II mas tauils
of execution and the conception or the soui OF Juuas
Iscaro carrying his discarded body through space 10
Ind it place of sepulture is more than suhclehty
strange But there is a power in the ballad" which
will think, justify its existence TO every reader.
The soul looked on, under the red moon, at tho
ttrangled body lying in the field OF blood and resolved
at last bury underneath the ground this flesh that he
had worn once that mOrtals should not look on H.
the wolf and ind it, SO he raised it, and be-
cause the stones Of that field hard and cold and
sharp as steel, he started to carry It away
Half he walked, and half he seemed
Lifted on the cold wind;
He did not turn, for chilly hands
Were pushing from behind.
Through all strange places he bore the accused body
and found for IL rest Upon the suen pool il noated
and would not SINK lie dared not lay il in an open
grave, the foot Of the whereon white
dove sat, and with two other beside It, one
either hand He would have thrown it over the BRIG
of Dread" but he could not for fear Of faces dm
md So
For days and nights he wandered on
And the days went BY like binding mist,
And the nights ike rushing rain.
For months and years in grief and tears,
lie walked Tie silent night;
Then the soul OF Judas IscarOt
Perceived d far-on hght,
A far-oG light across tho waste,
As dim as dim mi ght be,
That came and went like The Lighthouse CLEAN
On a black night at sea.
Twas the soul of Judas IscariOt
CTawled TO the distant CLEAN; - 49,,
Against him with a scream.
For DAYS and nights he wandered on,
Pushed on by hands behind; .
Aud the days went by like black, black taius
And the nights like rushing wind.
In the verses that follow, though they powerful
enough 10 command attention, there is painful literal
ness than pre- Raphaellte detail which Is not
agreeable The soul is represented as e strange and
sad and tail" standing before lighted hail. at dead OF
night. Tire world around is white with snow and on
the snow the body scariOt lies stretched while the
soul runs 20 aud fro. hardly why he should
run; why rather have stood still ana knocked, like
a sensible soul But
10 and fro and up and down,
He ran 50 swiftly there,
AZ round aud round the frozen Pole
Glldeth the lean white bear
Til the Blessed Bridegroom heard the weary feet
learned whose feet they were-what body was lying
unburied IN the snow After this the concluding
portion OF the poem full Of beauty-al sweetness and
hight.
The Bridegroom stood in the open door,
And he clad IN white,
And far within the Lords Supper
Was spread so broad ana bright.
The BRIDEGROOM shaded his eyes and LOOKED,
Aud his face was bright TO see
"Whdt dOst thou here at the Lords Supper,
With thy body SINS !" said he
Twas the soul OF Judas Iscariot
Stood black ana sad and bare
81 have wandered many nights and days;
There Is no h9Gt elsewhere"
Twas the wedding guests cried within,
And their eyes were fierce and bright
"scouIge the soul of Judas Iseariot
Away into the night!'
Tic bridegroom stood in the open door,
Aud he waved hands sti and slow,
AID the third time that he waved his hands
The air was thick with snow.
And Of every fake Of falling snow, .
Before q touched the ground.
There came dove, and thousand doves
Made sweet sound.
Twas the body OF Judas Iseariot
FlJdted away full feet,
And the wings OF the doves that bare II OH
Were like It's wlndingsheet
Twas the Bridegroom stood at the open door,
And beckOu'd smiling sweet;
twas the soul OF Judas Iscariot
Stole H. and fell at his feet.
'The Holy Supper il spread within,
And tue many candles shine,
AND hdvo waited long for thee
Before poured the winew
The sUpper " ne is poured at last
The lighir burn bright and fair,
Iscarot washes the Bridegroom feet
And rfcS fuefu win Is hail