New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
POETRY.

LOWELL. Illustrated S'O Pp 'O0' ''~ -
HoBS hT Ia r Ss 81 HSS 90
f0N PowEas limo PIP 1876 chcaso' Jansen @''iOiS
rollhwino the illustrated edition of Bryants com
lete poctical works. we have this sumptuous edition
If IongfeIow II is an illustrious record OF his |
lfes work. thus far; yet we can stu less iooA upoH
II as the close OF the poets activity than IN e co
Of BRYANT. Longfellow, although approaching MS
10th birthday is II years younger, ana retaiuS' III
all their life and fullness the individual charac'er
istcs Of his genius He has never written lines noie
solompIv sweet and serene than his "Moritur&
salutamusD never strains more instinct with AIRY
;maoination than the ehOruses in his "Masque OF
Pandora The secret of his 20 Itlful devotion to
bis art does not lie wholly in his intellectual
range and richness; it springs also FROM the
upyersality of his sentiment-we use the
word in its pure and digniied sense-In
n wide, difused glow, which does not rise to the
heat and blaze of passion and is so much the more
permanent. If great many OF his briei poems
seem like arrows shot at random into the ar, VIC
may be sure that every of them will somewhere
OF at some time, find its true target He never
seems consciously to keep in view, yet he never
loses sight of his near relationship to his fellow
men Hence he has become a melodiOus voice for
others. to greater extent than any other poet OF
this generation not excepting Tennyson. In tins
country he is pervading, purifying and exaltmg
influence the operation Of which viii hardly be fuy
recognized before another generation. Yet, while
ench poems as the psalm of Life, designation"
excelsior and many Others, the feeling and aDp1-
cation whereof are universal bear their messages to
all readers they do not represent his highest poetic
achievement. In the Circulation of Orion"
"Prometheus and Epimetheus," Paiingenesis'" ana
sCbrysaorD he speaks to the finer intelligence, and
sc agiOa Individuality. lie has
been widely and warmly praised, and now and
then petulantly assailed but has scarcely yet re-
ecved the large and earnest criticism to which his
scnius and his labors entitle him. Such criticism
must not deal simply with the technical charac-
teistes of his poetry but must consider Its entre
seope and tendency. The extent of his popularity
indicates that of his moral aud intellectual influence,
and makes his life an important agency IN the ad-
yaneement of a higher culture among the American
people. We need not commend this last and most
attractive edition of his poems it commends ITSELF
is illustrated with lavish richness and will tempt
those who already possess his unadomed works
We have already noticed the Complete Edition
of the Poetieal Works of James Russell Lowell.
This edition is evidently printed from the same
plates upon larger and better paper, with red-ne
border and handsomely illustrated. 1t is welcome
m all respects except the portrait OF the author,
which seems to have been engraved from bad
photograph. Why could not the publishers have
given us Rowse's admirable head of the poetf
in Flower and Thorn,D Mr. Aldrich has col
lected the poems which he has written during the
mast ten years. The exquisite paper, printing, and
binding of the volume are in perfect accord with
the taste, finish and poetcal intelligence stamped
npOn every one of its pages. Without intending IT,
the author has taught lesson to all his younger
brethren throughout the country If they will learn
10 study as honestly as he how to present their con-
eeptions purely and symmetricaly,-h to refuse
and restrain the native faculty, in guiding it stead
ily towards q wOrthier ea,-tbey may diminish
the quantity of their work. but will surely increase
the quality Mr. Aldrich gives us in this volume,
nothing that does not justify its existence. He has
lost nothing of bis early grace and spOrtive fancy
bat they are expressed in purer FORMS and renewed
against suggested background Of earnest thought.
His studies during the past years have brought
out more distinctly his poetic individuality, and
added to it an element of strength which was for
merly wanting. His "Quatrains" only hint of Ian
dor IN their design they are written in different
kew If his are hard and cearcut canoes, these are
light delicate figures from the medalons OF a Pom
peiian border. Here is one entitled "Spendthrift"
The faults not mine you u qn .61 H2IG
God shaped my palm SO / can ho"
And not much gold.
This is also excellent Of its kind:
A =
Mists of q mountain, seemed shape immensei
On seeing which, a giant IN Glsnay,
Took TO his heels and ran away
After so mucb earnest and melancholy verse as we
get nowadays, to say nothing of weary or stumbling
lines and poetic ideas either stunted OF OvergrOwn,
II Is great relief to open a volume like this where
H. the poet truly comprehends his art Mr. Adrichs
instinct Of what lie can best do is uneTring His
perception Of beauty his light, airy humor, ana his
clear power Of observation are hamonlousy blended
In his poetry while now and then, by subtitle line
or couplet he touches the deeper mysteries OF exist
ence assuring that his cheerfuness is not mdlt-
ferent nor his fancy superficial His individuality
of style sets even common themes in new atmos-
phere as in "An Old Castle" which is as fresh and
delightful as If old castles had been sung be-
fore In fact there are few pieces in the book that
do not invite reperusal he has the gift of making
them companOnable The sOnnets are rather Italian
Than English in their movement: that commencing
Enamored architect of airy rhyme" evidently con-
tans Mr. Aldrichs poetic confession of faith and ITS
orthodoxy will be apparent to all thinking men, 10
less than 10 authors, from the concluding line
"They fail, and they alone, who have not strven."
We have only space to quote the lark-like melody of
the esOi to the volume:
Take them and keep them,
SIiyery thorn and flower,
Plucked just at random
In the rosy weather.
EnOwdrOps and panses,
Sprigs OF wayslde heather,
And the fiyeleaved Wild rose
Dead within an hour.
Take them and keep them:
WHO can tell some day dear,
Though they be wtheled,
Flower and thorn and biossom),
Held for an instant
Upagainst thy bosom,
They might make December
Seem to thee like May, dear!