New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-26


genius of our tongue and with fewer nver-
sons Grace and nobility were its prominent char-
acteristics Landor was embarrassed by the very
affuence of his genius For seventy years he re-
minds one of the girl in the fairy tale who couid
not speak without dropping diamonds ana pearls
volume might be made of the lyrical gems Win
which even his prose writings are lnterspeIsed lie
had truly Shakespearean aptitude for the largest
and smallest work. and could make anything III
poetry from the posy of ring to the chronicle OIL
hero Landors appetite FOR knowledge was insatia-
BILE and his acquisitions We're immense lie gatheI-
ed up facts without effort, and retained every
thing that he observed read OF history, he was
a universal student. The philosophers of every age
were at his command, and subject to his wise uls-
elimination. For purely speculative metaphysics ne
bad little esteem. He had decided bent Tor cIi'-
cism which shows itself in his essays his talks ana
his correspondence. Nor was he without passion
for scholarly notes and minute verbal erncndatiohs
His sclolia upon the classical texts are fuli Oh ie
ing and beauty, but when he attempted 10 Regulate
the photography of our language the result was only
lamentabe. 1t seemed impossible for Landor 10
compose anything ungraceful or unartlshc Inc
ouatv of the poet rules over all. His voice was
sweet and he could not speak unmusically even III
rage His daintiest tritles are pure III color ana
without law The love of song stayed by HIM. Ills
last letters poems, and criticisms are full OF ih"ught
and beauty. He was poet above ALL and IKE all
true poets young IN feeling to the last. Mr. Sted-
man gives gracious picture of the old MINSTREL on
the verge of ninety with his foamwhite patrlarcha'
beard his leonine visage and his head Ike that OF
Michael Angeles "Moses," dying like some aged
monarch of the forest, most untamei when power
less away from the region which gave him birth and
the air which fosteTed his scornfui yet heroic spirit
In the chapter on Elizabeth Barrett Browning, ME-.
Sedman's powers called into the happiest eXer-
else presenting example OF delicate appfecia-
ton criticism equally generous and just, ana style
of transparent prose- colored with the purple hues oil
| poetry, without losing its masculine strength. lie
| looks upon the memory of Mrs. Browning as on some
beautiful IDEAL Nothing is earthly. though all is
human; a spirit is passing before our eyes, yet Oh
like passions with ourselves and encased III frame
So delicate that every fiber is alive with feeling and
| trenulous with radiant thought. Her genius GER
| tany may be compared to those sensitive, paipitat-
! ing flames, which ECONOMICALLY rise and fall III re-
Spouse to every sound vibration near them Her
whole being was rhythmic and, in time when arr IS
largely valued for itself alone, her uterances were
the expression of her nmost SOUL In regard 10 her
qualities as an artist, Mr.. Stedman considers ner
power of execution as inferior TO her capacity ol
feeling Her verse was the perfect exponent OF her
own nature, ranging through wide variety oi
topics. but always bearing the stamp of the authors
Individuality She was deficient Ia the con-
scientiousneSs of the artist often negleetinS
to give the last touches to productions that
required the utmost care " Her magma
ton was radiant. hut seldom clear; IT was the moon
obscured by mists, yet encircled with glorious
| halo Her exhaustlcSs command of words gave her
a large and free style, bat likewise dangerous iaci'-
! ity. Oily in instances did she attain the
strength and sweetness of repose. Her writings
were curionsly destitute OF hunOr, for the ndui-
I.l., fn, Mt Il.
Bat of wit and satire she has more than enough,
lashing all Kinds of tyranny and hypocrisy with
sovereign scorn The instinct of worship and the re-
liQon of Humanity were integral qualities of her ma
! turc and demand 10 less attention than the love
which dictated her most fervent poems. lier cn0-
ri ( aptly called her the Pascal of women, and SAID
| that her books praver-bOoks. She bad pro-
found faith in the Christian revelation, interpreted III
| the most Catholic sense She was the most beloved
of Ministries and women, and was both poet and
poem in herself. The English love to call her
| Shakespcares daughter and in truth she bear to
their greatest poet the relation Of Miranda b. Pros
pero. Mrs Browning is segarded by the author as
the representative of her in The Victorian era
She was the passion flower of the century, the con
sciOus medium OF some power beyond the vail. More
than all of her tneui brotherhood she revercd the
poets inspiration. She surrendered herself to the
play of her imagination as IT some ange!lc voice
| spoke through her. realizing the idea of the bard
exalted to prophet, as described by Plato. "A
poet is thing light, with wings, and unable to COM
pose poetry until he becomes inspired and is out OF
| his sober senses and his imagination is no longer
under his control; for he does not compose by art,
| bat through a divine power"
| OF Robert Browning, Mr.. Stedman speaks with
certain reserve, showing touch of the unqualified
| admiration with which he is regarded by his more
enthusiastic disciples Brownings manner IN his
view is so eccentric greatly to affect our estimate
of him as poet Hi, style is that of a man caught
in morass of ideas through which he has to travel
His latest works have been more involved and ex-
cursive less beautiful and elevating than most OF
! those which preceded them. Much of his poetry
is either very great very poor. 1t has been ccm-
pared to Wagners music, and entitled the poetry of
the future' but if this be just, then wemust revise
our conception of what poetry really Is. The
| doubtcr incurs the cOntemptnOus enInity OF too
classes of the dramatiss admirers first of the met
aphysical who disregard considerations of passion,
melody and form secondly, Of those who are sensi-
tive to their masters failings, but in view of his
greatness, make il point of honor to defend them
That greatness lies in his originality; his error,
arising from perverseness coneental defect is the
violation of natural and beautiful laws This reI-
dprs his longer poems of less worth than his yrica.
Studies while through avoidance of IT, productions,
differing a. widely as The Eve of 81. Agnes and
! In Memoriam,' will outliye The Ring and the
! Book"
Mr. Stednans estimate of Swinburne. like that of
Browning is pcrvadcd by too strOrg vein of sanity
| to find Iauch favor among the rapt worshipers OF
! that phenomenal genius He does justice to the
miiaculous Gift Of rhythm, and his command over
the unsupported resources Of language in which lac
SURPRISES any living English poet Before his ed
| vent, we did not understand the full scope of En-
! gsh verse. In his hands, it is like the violin OF