New-York tribune., 1875-10-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE MIGHT AND MIRTH OF LITERATUrE By
JOIN WAIVER VHASr MAcBETH lRmo. PIP o42 harper
q Brothers ,
In this curious and even unique volume the
r;,or ,bose name has not vet become familiar in the
literary ed of the country has ostCnsiby chosen for
discussion the subject OF 1gratvc language mt IN act
has made his book the vehicle for copous selection Oh
rhetorical passages from the most celebrated authors W
ancient and modern times accompanied with cluch
comments many OF which notable for ther
,naintpess of exures,on as for their fertility OF sug
resticn Professor Macbeth has evidently Deen
wide reader, though not indiscrimnate de-
yourer, OF books. lie botriys an aodua'n'
ance with the literature OF many languages
though his learning does not appear TO nave dom''u
over mia Judgment II his remarks often have too fine
point and may be considered more NEE thah Wise ny
fasious readers they have been thrown ont at ran
dom but are clearly the result Of earnest reflection,
though OF peculiar tastes. lie il not TO be taken as an III
falibe guide through the nOwery labyrinth which he
opens TO yiew but he brings his followers into fragrant
atmoshere and does not weary them by iltimeo gar
ruy The main purpose of his book, he ntimates il
Ia e0uip a new branch OF study, to discuss hgureS OF
sneech more fully than has been done before,
and TO urge many whOl'so practtcai coun-
sells upon all who write or speak the hhehsi
tongue presenting wide review "I American
and English literature How far he mas succeeucu j"
this ambitious attempt ay remain an open question:
thoueh but few viii deny that he has brought many rare
train Of thought which mag do good service IN tue ar' ol
cou,poson At all events. his selections from ploni-
nen authors ere moi "huddlod and Jumped MOI ioT''u
IL keep each others company in promiseuous conuSloh
but marshaed in orderly and lucid array, ana always
brourb, to bear upon the illustration Of principle the
rracca suggestions of the author are usually iorchY
expressed though often in more lord style than the
occasion demands Thus in speaking of the musical
forms that abound in language, not Only
in poetry. but in prose, he reHidIkS' Inc
prose Of our great writer's such az Milton Dry
den South Jeremy Taylor Addison, Burke, RusNn'
ovcraows With melody, in their single words and IN the
wondrously cunning structure Of their sentences, while
Inriish o fry Is as capable OF many varieties OF
measure a. hath Horace himsef-nay, even when tie
measure is deemed by the uinitaed TO be one ltls ac
tu?lly shaping it, flow into many variety oi preaR'
eddy ripple For proof Of this turn To the "pehhS
Of Paradise Lost The sural pausc is varied with
conslmmate art, rather with seraphic instinct
IN almost every one Of the twenty-five marvellous
opening lines; as after the words dsObcdience,
tree world. Eden, no, must, Sinai, shepherd and
SO on from which changes iniihtabiy sweet arise
the melodies that cmauate from Mltons rages as IN
mighty forest each great tree swdys, III the Wlhd ol
June with motion and mstlinS OF Its iol'g" pccuhar
10 itself" The author never 10 cs an opportunity to pay
his homage 10 the religious sentiment, which sometimes
blends rather ngualy with his 1uedravn criticisms ON
various points OF aesthetics. In his view, Chlstl not
only the embodiment Of the highest truth III nor
ais and religion hut the personation OF the
nollcst pOcsy. "Ihe harnOnies OF Handel ana
beethoven. every sublimest minister and cathedral,
the epes Of Dante aud of Milton attest the imperial sway
which Christ strangely vet 80 mGenably puts forth
over the realms OF intellect As from the Cross comes
worship destined dethrOne every other comes from
that Cross too a literature glow other lterl-
ture" The pcrusa Of The volume leaves the impression
o writer of marked and peculiar individuality, of an
ardent imagination sensitive temperament, and wide
culture but more with books than with the
living world addicted to meditation rather than TO
action aud chorshng the tastes Oi rccuse more ondy
than the habits of society If the learning, which be
scatters with lavish hand. sometimes shows tine
ture of pedautIy or the Indulgence OF an cratic appe
lite il has freshness and naIyotG which at
tlnctve than strict adherence TO literary etiquette