The New York herald., 1875-12-17
LITERATURE.
CASTELAR, ON BYRON.

Here Al ast Is the long heraded Castelaris "Lfesof
byronn rendered INTO English BY competent hand.
20 those who have been expecting new reyelalons
ernng the world famous poet his biography, bis sup
crossed memoirs bis life work. this sketchy but bri
ant volume viii bring only disappointment But 10
hose who relish brilliant generalization eloquent and
neaphorical touches and the high poetic treatment Of
poetic theme castelar's brei book viii be welcome
Goweyer great a mlsnomer il may be TO style II
biography. Out or 346 pages Of the London edition
hss than half only l7s pages, are occupied
sth Lord Byron The other materials, htly demon
mated sketches in the title page brilliant char
.cterizatons Of four eminent Frenchmen and one
italian transpanted to France-Victor Hugo, Alexan-
are Dumas Emile Girardin, AdoIphe Theirs and Daniel
damn Passing these essays which have been
published other forms, let to what CASTELAR,
Ias 10 say OF Byron. His book is prefaced by grand
loquent Introduction by jose R. Leal, Of Havana
ghich Mrs Arnold has thought proper render
rom the original edition, but which might better have
aeen left out Castelaris preliminary sketch Of the
stormy birth, infancy and childhood Of Byron seizes
he main points Of hls strange biography and brings
he picture before the eye with great force OF
oppression. Witness the following
This stormy Preside; this rebellious birth; this
pendthrft father; this assassin uncle; this mother
smbittered by disappointment the sweetness OF whose
had been pierced by the thorns her sorrow this
blood boiling and ag1tated like the troubled over
which wandered the Normans this cradle, rocked BY
despair and watered by tears this decay or Illus
trious line, which threatened extinction IN It's lest
representatives; this accidental ameness which the
cruel shaft oi ridcue made him keenly sensitive; all
these influences acting on naturally sensitive nature,
INSPIRED the eternal eegy embodied in his verses like
The continuation Of the nrst bitter cry Of his existence
CASTELAR, himself In his second chapter, speaks mod
ssty OF the task be has undertaken and claims no full
1lment in II Of what the world has long looked for with
mpatience-namely work the life ofthe poet which
shall be, 70 speak, monumental "a book which
would throw and greater light on this great
mind and be for ii almost resurrection" +" Such
book he thinks had she been worthy, might have
been written by the Countess Guiccol that beautiful
creature who 50 fascinated Byron the last few years
his existence and whom be depicts in the following
language
And, indeed that woman, who met the poet
half way IN his career when almost maddened by wild
passions and desperation when faith and life
nearly extlnguished; she who smiled upon him like
the moon between the clouds OF the tempest and
foothed him with her tears, the gentle Gains
The stormy ocean and inspired him with tender verses
whose sweetness and pathos equalled by their
grandeur; she who melted him TO deathess actions,
Tuch the struggle for the emancipation OF the Greeks
the memory Of whose deeds shall be cherished among
The herosms and the noblest sacrifices OF his
tory; that woman is Of those sublime MUSES. who
pass over the world singing like nock OF white mystic
birds, over its sorrows and terrora
After this somewhat extravagant compliment to the
Countess, CASTELAR, contrasts her with Heloise whose
immortal love for Abelard of much higher and
liner quality than that OF Guicciol for Byron. he
hnds fault with the Countess for having survived
The poet Says he:-
The Countess wronged her husband for the sake
OF Byron. Such fault could have but excuse-the
eternity Of her love How did the Countess Guiccoli
wear her perpetual mournngS Calling herself the
Aarquise de Boissy after the death Of her husband
wrote an intermnable book upon Byron, monotonous
and wearisome apology, instead OF the lyric poem
which should emanate from enamored heart
The few personal and felicitous touches which are
found in Castear's book mingled with a mass OF
philosophical reflections which constantly interrupt
the narrative CASTELAR, literary artist belongs es-
Eentially to the class of Rhetoric, logic,
IS hts forte. and long episodes brilliant beside the
subject continually divert the reader from his theme
which he has styled 'sThe Life OF Lord Byronn He
diverges from account OF Byrons boyhood into a
long comparative analy sis Of English society and
that OF France and tho South OF Europe
HIS narrative OF Byron's early poetic trials .
and squabpes with Edinburgh reviewers is sup
plemented by a long euiogy OF the poetic genius
in general Byron in Venice prompts personal rem
niscence ofhe Grand Canal and aposrophe OF Edgar
Quinet's great work OF "Ahasuerus" Byrons ad-
vent In the House of Lords tempts CASTELAR, ac
count ofhis seeing for the hrs time
the Houses OF Parliament the Cathedral OF Toledo the
Coliseum Of Rome and the Cemetery OF Pisa Some
times these episodes fine specimens OF rhetoric or
Of poetic analysis but at others they become w@ari-
some interruptng with the reflections of the ind
vdual author what the reader rightly expects be
devoted to the immediate subject Of his book Here is
pen picture OF the personnel Of Byron which worthy
or quotation
His remarkable face; the beauty Of his crecan head
bis spacious forehead his arched ey ebrows: depth
Of his eyes which repose assumed the pure blue OF
the heavens, but which any emotion deepened TO
black, like Of changing thoughts the perfect
line Of his lips sculptured III vbrate eternal har
mony; his aauilne nose; his beard, divided with in
comparable grace. his Olympic gestures. his majestic
r0l hv fba
ashng from his features mis- pale and delicate
complexion, resembling the color of antique marble
glned by the Of centuries; all his being all his
person, declared that in chsellng that perfect vase
the Creator did not design that should remain empty
but be filed with immortal fragrance
Astonishing nexibilty," says CASTELAR, "is dis
inctve characteristic OF the poet" The picturesque
description OF Byron's Eastern wanderngs his travels
Albania and Greece abounds with the romantic
and fascinating scenery. Castears extremely brief ac
count Of the suppressed memoirs OF Byron is as fol-
lows
The memoirs, which tho poet wrote IN a style
Euperior>even % his verses, n Judge by some
remaining fragments, those sketches which would
have been one Of the most faithful historic testimonies
~ 'o hnss. nav ulsaFpesi through the pFuaery o.
the English arstocraey who were there painted nude
according TO the method Of great artists
He gave up his memoirs to Moore. But
Moore, who crafty and cold hearted
incapable Of telling truth, and desrous frequent
high society, becoming the possessor of tragic and
comic descriptions Of ladies' Of rank and thinking ii
unwse TO reveal their secrets broke the NJ rror IN
which postery coula have the face Of the great
poet and Of his epoch.
CASTELAR, does not fail to pay high compliment to
Byron for lie and spirit Of bis three speeches Ia
Parliament all in support OF the rights Of the people
and Of progress against privilege Indeed he claims
Byron aristocratic republican, who left
many Of his intelligence behind do
fender Of the cause Of liberty. Here is sentence
which is orator Castears panegyrc upon eloqueDce
Eoquence is the angels trumpet which calls down
the judgment Of God upon tyrants and unfolds the IN
finite joys Of a new existence.
The singular paradoxes Of Lord Byron's life char
aoter and writings have nowhere found more elo-
quent summing up than the following by our author
He believed that 70 live 10 feel everything to
experience everything; 70 pass through the different
Rradations Of the warmth of universal lite; TO plunge
heavily IN the depths Of the ocean like the hshes
Fcale the snowy peaks, ike the eagles 10 roll among
the dry leaves Of autumn 70 trample She SHOWS u