The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-03
SONE NEW moons.


SOME NEW Moons.
MIR. Longfellow's Latest Poetry.
Messrs. James II. Osgood x Go. have
published in small and handsomely made
volume a collection Of Mr.. LoSGFELLow i
newest verses. The book is called The
MHst Pdndor, after the first in order
and in rank aud the most elaborate poem
which It contains This Mask" il a drama
in the simplest form, Of which the OPEN
ing Of Pandoras box Is the catastrophe. The
pcrsonagcs, with the exception Of =" The Reeds, -
" Birds" " Dreams "Noiccs Of the Winds, -
"Noices OF the Forest" aud "Voices Of the
Waters" imperspnated by the chorus, arc all
NEUROLOGICAL. 1t Is a poem after classical
Greek models, elegantly written, exhibiting
much strength, but not always adhcring st ictly
to dramatic propriety, as, for instance, when
He'mes, soliloquizinR, is made to say:
on the sustaining afr. nor fcSr to IA /
Iike lcarus. nor swcfye aside Ike hun
Who drove amiss IJpcriOn's Gery stoeds.
when saying thi', Hcrmcs was about his rogu-
larry appointed business, in his natural ele-
men', US much so as Is a tclcgraphic mes
senger boy threading Broadway. And the
me sengor boy would as naturally congratu-
late himself that no was not going to
sink or fall like some adventurous, but I'M
fortunate aJronaut, as would H,rmcs to make
the reflection quoted. Mr. Lonrfellow's genius
hnds It's natural expression in lyfcil and de-
scriptve, not in dramatic poetry; and when
whiting a drama he Is apt to make his characters
describe rather than speak out the uselv.s
what HeuAcs saws at the beginning Of this same
soliloquy Is obviously suggested by the known
Office Of that god. But It Is unfortunately so
much like the complaint Of this celestial courier
to bis mother, a. set forth In Lucian's dia-
lpvu.4. IN IL o., I,
cused Of copying. 1t is, however, quite in
character, aud well serves to introduce what
follows.
The poem IL symmetrical, scholarly, and full ~
harmonles. some Of which are however, not strik-
inely new. II Is compact, spirited, and contains
much variety Of rhythm, all skilfully adapted to
the sentiment expressed. Its author has written
nothing stronger than are some OF the lines in
this work-nothing more graphic aud winning
than are some OF the descriptions. tn Hii de-
scrbes Pandora in this wise:
Oswcet, pale face! lovely eyes u azure.
Gear ~ thy waters Of a brook tiat rua,
Lmnid u 4 l!ushing In IN, summer -un
Ia it, abundance overil W.. tho measured
With the colt uuduiatinx gait Of one
VINO movcth as II motion were pleasure
Tho yigor and fire Of youth are not wanting In
the moro passionate scenes; while from time
to time echoes from tho poets own youthful
utteranccs seem to sound across the harmony,
as here:
These 'rc the Voices Thrce
Ihlt spcnk Of end ess cnfoavor;
Triumph aud fnn'-s u fame,
sounding about the worll,
Az inspiration forever.
iigiss r., ,ss cart e55 , Of ' hen,
The book contains also tho "The Hanging Of
the Crane" which was written for Mr.. Ronncr's
Ncw York Lcigcr;" Morituri Sautamus." several
short poems grouped under the general design
alton, " Birds Of Passage" and some very clever
sonncts. The most prominent characteristic Of
all these Is reelection reelection more or less slg-
ges'iye Of tender melancholy. Some OF the best
arc marred by didactic stanzas and uutinely in
PRODUCTION Of moral philosophy. rs, for in
stance, In the verses entitled "Charles sumner"
where the reflections on the suddenuess Of
death, and Its relation to life and what lies
beyond, contained In tho attn, sixth, and
seventh stanzas, are out Of place, somewhat
tame in comparison with the rest, and an oil
f.Isivc hlcmi~h. Were these stauzas stricken
out.ihe poem. rs such, would be greatly inn
proved thereby. would indeed be made nearly
reflect II Is kind, and would then read as
follows:
GARLAND upon his grave.
AMI 10 the tend i, a, nj n. rive
The tribute of tAls yerse.
NJ y, vas so 'af tG s15 "a !i 5,,o
III srle', tAr hittcrucs GA strife,
The honor without s,Mn.
Like Winkelrici. he took
lufu his manly breast
Tie 10 If ut hostile spears and broke
lafh Tor the Nppre I'd.
Thou from the fatal trlI
lItut toms uDlrf.
49, 90, Ift warrior of ITS shield
s1tAOuid the brave depart.
Wc,oa stlr Qltntl.i an hlgh,
i,r Hg WHulI A.. |I-ff,
sautrNelu- lorle -rl'fr.m the sly.
sAL. pu 4us mortal sl-.t.
50 whom --cl. n1r di's
furtrtr- ur1 ull our 900.
I'll. lEi ..H NN- lam les
lyon the paths ut iueI.