The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-23

he King, at the Kings death accepted
the crown. Following close Oh this event
came the memorable battle between King
Hardrada and himself near York, as
above related. The Earl Tostig THAR
Odds brCther) Is ambitious, daring, cruel,
and his bravery ia the only redeemitng
feature Of HE character, rs drawn by the
author. He allies himself to King
Hardrada, and confronts Harolts army
at the battle near York, where he IS
killed by Sexwulf the Slave-the latter
character being merely creation OF Inc
author. Earl Gurth, another son o.
Goodwin, espouses the cause OF Harold
from frst TO last, and Is true 10 history.
His great amiability and breadth Of
character makes him u very pleasing
feature in the mechanism OF the tragedy.
His action is entirely unselfsh: Il Is,
indeed, Ingenious and wonderfully chiy.
alrousi Earl Morkar aspires TO the
Dukedom Of Northumbria, and is en-.
outraged in the same by the Archbishop
Of York, who, for purposes OF his own,
proposes that Harold shall marry Al.
dyth, Morkar's sister. Morkar, caught
BY this bait, at once becomes an adherent
Of Harold, firmly believing that the
Dukedom. Of Northumbria and other
emoluments will ultimately fall 10 his
lot. Here II will be we'll TO refer TO
Hume's account Of the same.
The historian says that Harold HGrries
the sister Of "Morcar," which would at
once render GEdith" as entirely foreign
to tho authors beautiful drama. But the
author, for the sake Of the harmony Of
his scheme, has taken an e1cusable
license here. The playwright has fol.
lowed Hume as closely as he could do,
and at the same time provide place for
Edith, the heroine Of the play. Mr..
Leighton treats this rs mercy proposed
alliance coming from the Archbishop,
not from Harold. See page Is. Speak
ing to Earl Morkar, the Archbishop says:
"My son, in plainness, l would bid you
wed your sister, Aldyth, to fierce Tostig's
brother" TO sustain this theory, the
the author evidently intends the line ON
page 173-"And bring this brother-in.
law Of ours along" TO be merely
spoken ironically on the part Of
Harold. Mr.. Leighton by this
method appears to follow, something
like the shadow OF history, as faithfully
IA he can, and still retain Edith as the
object OF Harold's devotion to the end Of
the tragedy.
One Of the best characters in the book
Is Aldred, Archbishop Of York, who, al
though not the Primate Of England, is
certainly the master spirit when COM
pared with the Primate Stigand, Arch
bishop OF Canterbury. Aldred Is true
son oil the Church, according to his orr.
construction Of what it Ia to DO 4 son oil
the Church. He il quite finished in
church diplomacy, is jealous Of the posi-
bic intrigues Of Rome against what he
considers the interest Of the Anglican
Church, and shapes all his actions with a
view to consolidate what he deems to be
its best interests, and ii may be added, his
own personal advantage. The Primate,
Archbishop Sligand OF Canterbury, Is not
in entire accord with Aldred OF York, and
ia Norman by birth and instincts; his
real sympathies are with Rome frsi, and
the possible accession to the throne oil
William, Duke OF Normandy. The
Countess Gytha is the widow Of Earl
Goodwin, and as the reader will per-
ceiye, was the mother OF Harold,
Tos,ig, Gurth and Wolnoih; the latter
being the younger sons hostage In
strange land, is ever present to her
troubled mind. She is grand charac.
ter, and adds dignity to the movement OF
the story, and challenges the highest
homage Of the reader. The Lady Edith
being mostly the authors own concep.
tion, and one on whom he concentrated
his admitted ability, is one OF the most
important characters in the tragedy and
ia most beautifully and effectively por-
trayed and highly enhances the interest
of The plot. She has given up the world
at the instigation Of the adroit Arch.
bishop, OF York, but cannot obliterate
the devoted Harold from her memory,
and at last discovers his dead form on the
battle. field, and in an exlacsy OF madness
dies herself. ..
The other characters being ,noatly OF
the authors own creation, may be dis
posed OF as follows: Guthlac il q clever
piece OF imaginary Thaneship; Mollo Ia
an adept in minstrelsy, and by the way is
quite practical wit-giSing much life ia
the play. Sexwulf, the Slave, Is a fair
type Of cast that has always existed In
the werld-does exist-and II the world
makes no more Roadway In the next
thousand OF years than 1t has done since
tho Mosaic period, it will show the long
vista Of coming ages the same obstacle
for the humRnitarians OF the future TO con
tend with. Tho subordinate fixtures OIL
the tragedy may be dismissed with the
remark that they are the Indispensable
furniture Of all stage plays, and are judi
ciously fitted in. ,sE s5fi.
The following extracts are submitted
TO the reader for his criticism; the writer
hopes that their elegance and poetic
truthfulness will in part, itnot altogeth'
or atone for the length Of the above de:
tailed consideration Of the general and
particular topics forming the structure
Of Mr.. Leighton's mastery effort 10 q
very eminent domain OF literature. Each
passage Ia indexed as to the page OF The
book on which It may be found, thus en-
abling the reader 10 turn 10 II readily
without consulting either the act or scene
oil which It may form part. It'd
"Tho fate Of man Is In ths womb Of Time,
And rash b 10 whOdar to nay will. "-Pdgs 30
"Far love Is wa,chful OF the gmalle,t things,
And finds a language 10 each look and smiie,
Motion aud act; tho peniiye, doWncaSteye,
| The ringing laugh, are words that may BIO real
By harmless sorcOry Of anxiou! love-.
A CIPHER language, falling OF the hoart,
| How ID puIhatiUns boat, while Joy or pAln
Writes is quick legend on tho ehangGful brow"
Page Ct
"Lol a prophetic ylAlon comes TO me-: r
DIAcord Il sltIIng on this Island throne
With frenzy In her eyes her hands appraised
Urge on tumultunua war; this Hffhshtel Land
Trenblea 70 hear the din" . f
"Two powers buiid up the State. the powu OF God
II, exponent the Holy Church, and law, a., :,
its Gxponcnt the King" Fog ~
"Itls true,
What 4 our rIght We often must deler ...a
Because such right u Haired from Us by that
Would cast us much 10 put aside; 50 yOu l-
WhS cAunot reach at once what y your right
Mua lear your wrong because exPelleney IN
n "PatienO1 SuppoSes hope;
But what have on which to buIida hope?
While must walt the wrong grows daily morei
t. "FortunC's oltOuer won
ny wise diplomacy than brutal strength" 700
LtuO. far the pOwcr Of mind that LOOKS beyond