The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-01

market. This will be one Of the most dramatic
crises Of the POEM"
"Of course. the two hogs and the old ram are
saved by divine intcrpositonW
You have conjccturcd correctly. Bacchus.
pcrceiving the perilous situation OF his favor
itc dispatches Silenus with II bottle OF gin for
the butcher. The butcher. dropping his bloody
knife and concerning himself with the gods
gift, gets very drunk and the victims escape.
Moreover. Jupiter. ut tho ntcrccssion Of tho
vinOus deity. again intcrfcrcs, and 10y certain
well directed thundcrbolts. frightens the me-
dium of Soho into releasing Ulysses and his
companions from their bcsta state"
Excuse me. Doctor. but isn't all this little
improbablcp
Not for an epic sir not for an epic am
very careful not to abuse the license properly
accorded to the epic poet. For instance. 1t was
my intention at first to take Gen. Grant to tho
Internal regions. in order to commune with tho
shades Of Alexander, Caesar. Hannibal. Marl-
borough. Napoleon. and other great military
commanders. all Of whom should hail him as
their supcrorand chief. But | thought that this
episode might be offensive to Il good many
plous people. get over the difficulty very in
geniously. however"
How is that. Doctorl"
Instead oftaking Gen. Grant 10 Hadcs I take
him to Madame Tussaud's Waxworks. where he
meets all tho heroes mentioned, and they. anil
mated by Jovc for the occasion. hold con, SO
with Gen. Grant. and compliment him ON his
career"
Now II seems to mo that Grants going TO
Hadcs Is much more probable"
THAT. sir. is a matter Of opinion. haven't
yet arranged the details of this visit. which. in
deed. will not take place until the tenth or elev-
m. Al. 4. -. a..
am prepared to give You the argument. Victoria.
on whom the interesting tale OF the hero has
'made a great impression. falls violently in love
with him As the Queen trips forth from Wind
sor Castle early one morning. with her bow and
arrows in hand. to shoot squirrels in the forest.
she perccivcs Gen. Grant sitting on the stump u
an oak tree smoking n cigar. Venus, friendly
TO all protdgcs Of Bacchus's, opens Victoria's
eyes to the manly beauty of her guest She
freely avows her passion. and invites Ulysses to
remain and share her throne. IN vain the hero
protests that BE- has spouse already; that he is
the respectable parent Of large and dear fam
ily. and that she. the mother of dozens. Is old
enough to know better. She presses her suit
and he is obliged to lock himself in his own
apartment for safety. Victoria. resolving to nc
complish by stratagom what her charms have
failed to effect with the assistance Of Bcacons-
Held, Gladstone. lllmsol, henrdly, ana otncr
trusted counsellors. arrangcs a plot to make
Gen. Grant prisoner and compel the nuptials
which he has refused. The much planning
Perrcpont. learning Of the scheme. hastens the
hero on board ship at Dover; and Victoria
and her accomplccs reach the chalk cliffs that
overlook the Channel just in time to see the
vessel sail for France. With the tears Of the
Queen and the mutations Of her slishtcd beauty
and unrequitcd affection. this fine fifth book
ends"
What shall you call this grand historical
poem. DotorT
Il have not quito dccidcd-probably The
Simsoniad.'"
Dr. Newman read passages here and there to
show tho digniled and heroic quality OF his
blank verse hut to reproduce so much as sim
gle line in anticipation Of the publication Of the
completed masterpiece. would. OF course be not
only indiscrcet but improper.