New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sTEpMAS's VICTORIAN POETS

that is sometimes though rarely, iohhd oet"eeh Io
possession of high poetcal gifts and OF the faculty
of acute and even. subtle criticism. The example
Of Addison and Pope may be brought as proof OF
sneh combination hut in each of those illustrious
men the critical power far dominated over the
exercise of imagination, as to give the supreme
place to Judgment rather than to poetry. In
more recent times, Wordsworth and Coerdge
have shown n mastership in the critical
function rivalng the splendor Of their poetry
by the snewy prose of the one, and the airy phioso
phy of the other, while in our own country, bryant
and Dana are less honored as sovereign judges III
the realms Of literature, than revered as creators IN
the world of fancy. Mr.. Stedman now afrns his
claim To the possession of each title. Among the
Younger American poets, he has long been the sub
ject of select and peculiar donors The freedom ana
fervor of his verse have made him cherished favor
lite with the lovers of natural feeling and spontahe-
Gus exnresSion. His teachings have been imblbed
from the lessons of Nature and not from the schools
of tradition rejoicing IN the flow of song Instead OF
counting the unwilling muse But in the present
volume he challenges new position IN American
culture postponing the creative power TO the utter
ance of critical judgments and cvincing maturity
of taste. richness of learning, and refinement OF
ANALYSIS the lack of which might well be excused TO
the possessor Of such genial gifts of poetic inspra
ton.
Mr.. Stedman's purpose has been TO furnish crit
lcal and historical review of British poetry during
the reign OF the presen6 Queen. Before proceeding
to the main object of his work he offers some preg-
nant remarks on the Characteristics of the present
age especially in relation to the conflict between
science and religion, which has significant bearing
on the condition of poetry The period, he Observes
has been marked by stress of scientific lconoclasm'
This stress has been vaguely felt by the poets but it
=, mo M
not one to be lamcnted, f6I it cannot but lead to
new and fairer manifestations of the spirit of rcesy
There is no Inherent antagonism between the cult
walton % poetry and the progress of science. Still
there is Temporary struggle. which, 20 some extent,
has embarrassed The poets of the age Scientific
men have been so devoted to the study OF general
principles, have found such wonders in the laws
of force and matter. that the poetic bearing OF nat
ural phenomena has seemed of inferior value, while
the exercise of the intellect in the acquisition OF
knowledge has assumed a comparatively vast lm-
portance. In the presence of Nature man and hls
conceptions are made Of little account. The revea-
tions of astronomy for instance, rcpress all sefs-
sertion, and make one content with the quiet ac-
ceptancc of lie with its Limitations. In earlier eIas
of this kind men were occupied with discovery and
invention till sense of safety led them back to the
play Of fancy and emotion. But in the nineteenth
taste and material progress have kept pace with one
another The modern student has often been so mar
rowcd by his contact with physical Nature as to he
more unjust tO the poet than the latter was OF old to
the philosopher At the present day. net the singers
and philosophers, but the men of action and of
physical research, are crowned with bay-leaVes'
The poets hold of the Youthful mind and of popular
feeling has sensibly relaxed Darwin and Spencer
carry it over Tennyson and LOngfellow. Even the
poets have caught the infection of the age In the
presence of scientific discovery their own conccp-
lions lose their spendor. thirst for facts grows
upon them. They throw aside the Tyre and take IN
the microscope and crucbie. But, M the opinion OF
the author there passages in modern poetry tlat
forebode the approaching harmony between poetry
and science The essays of Tyndal and Spencer
except in form, are Poems in themselves. There are
both philosophers and poets who feel that no abSo-
lutte antagonism exists between them. Science,
moreover kindles the imagination with the won
drous conceptions which it has wresed from the un-
known, aud thus becomes the ally OF poetry. The
latter return is often the herald of science through
the subtle intuions Of the poet who fOretOkens to
the student of Nature the laws of universal being.
4 modern physicist finds the latest theory
of matter in the poetry of LucTetus. Still the poet
must have always a separate and independent exist
ence for a. Mr. Stcdman finely remarks, the spirit
Oi Nature Is BEST revealed Nv an pIeHHON OF litI
phenomena and not by an analysis of her processes.
Visible beauty eXalts our emotions far more than
dissection of the w0ndrous and intricate system
beneath it. The sight of a star, or of flower, or
tie story of a single noble action, touches our
humanity more nearly than the greatest discovery
or invention" But poetry will rot be able To make
use Of the aid of science, until her vOarieS shall
cease to be disconnected by the possession of new
sense. Our horizon is now extended so far that
we are confused by thousand novel and sublime
objects. We are placed suddenly in foreign world
whose spiritual significance is hut dimly understood
But at last a clearer vision and Tiper faith viii
come TO us and with them fresh inspiration. eX
pressing itself in symbols, new imagery and
beauty sugg stod nv the fuller truth. The years of
transition are their end 1t is the faith of the
author that poetical literature adapted to the
new order of thought and the new aspirations Of
humanity, will speedily grow into form. The
dyllic philosophy of Wordsworth has fulfilled its
mission The art which was born with Keats, and
found its highest expression in Tennyson, seems
Already to have reached conSummate form. a new
generation Graves more spontaneous aud dramatic
utterance Ii is perceived that the nObest function
of the poet is interpret the universal soul OF hui
mainly, throwing aside precedent, and studying
nature and life AZ first hand. The transition pc
riod doubtless will lie prolonged by the ccasaless
p ogress of the scientific revolution, occupying
mems ma9Inatlons aud constantly readiusting the
basis Of language and illustration. Ere long some
new Lucretius may core 20 rentcrpre the nature OF
things, confirming many Of the ancient prophecies,
aud substituting for the wonder of the remainder
the still more woudrOus testimonyof the lens, the
laboratory, and the rneunial rocks The old men
of the Jewish captivity wept with a loud voice
when they saw the foundations Of the new temple,
because its glOr in their eyes, ia comparison ~th
that buildcd by solomon, WIS as nothing; but the
prophet assured them that tie Desire of all
nations should come, and that the glory of the
latter house should De greater than of the former"