New-York tribune., 1877-01-02

Whatever qualities MT. Motifs may acK, as Il
singer scartness OF breath is not one of them. He
apparently takes such delight in the sound OF his
own chanting that he begins with great gladncss
and is ever more and moro reluctant to leave OIL
He is fast becoming as intcrminabo as the Eddas
from which he draws his themes, In this story OF
SsGrI the Vosung Uhe "Segfried" of Wagners
IrugyN VIC have the whole saga-cycle of tue myth
cal Northern hero, fused and recast into an epic OF
10000 lifting aleXandrines. II is little more than
SIX months since his translation of the fneldsD "
appeared, and although the whole of this poem was
probably not written in tho mean time, yet 1t Is
quite possible. The flow of Dir. MOrriss narrative
verSc. in which we seemed TO discover the re-
salt OF study aud SKILL is evidently large natural
gift which acquires fresh activity and power from
use 1t is not many years since many critics "e-
carcd that the age of epic narrative was over Iof-
eyer that poems, to be popular must be brief that
the novel had superseded the nctrical romance.
The fact that Tcnnyson broke mp his Arthnrian epic
into idyls was considered sufficient proof of the
change. Nav dId not Mr.. Morris himself, IN hls
"Farthlv Paradise add another illustrations
Turning to the latter work, now, we see that the
author was gradually testing his pubic HIS Stories
grew in length they increased IN number, uhth III
"Gudran the true epic proportion was very nearly
attained. Readers, having once fully breathed the
soft. narcotic atmosphere of his verse listened Oh
and on and were never weary. They absorbed tho
pervading spirit of the poems, and remembered
them rs who.es. rather than through detached hhcs
or passaacs. This is no slight triumph for poet,
and il dttncs Nh MoTrss exceptional place III inter-
ature. Scarcely a line of the Earthly Paradise
has become a current quotation: very few OF its
many readers are able 10 repeat any portion OF what
they most admire; yet il continues to draw and omd
them with singular glamour. The bulk OF "Si2uTd
the Volsung will not alarm them: the monotonous
march Of the acXaudnncs will not pail upon their
ear; the recurrence of situations and descriptions,
rs N the original saras will only highten their EN-
ioyIncnt in the poem. This IS 80 certain that we
cannot ,,,l the epic an experiment
In none of lis previous works has Mr. Morris
shown greater literary skill lie gives Us ms art at
is best, clear and un!ucumbered that we have no
dniouity in estimating It's power or quality. bOjh
subject and meter are admirably chosen and fitted to
each other. The former, familiar to German Liter
atu,e for Il century past, is just beginning to be
known in ours the nam features Of the sara have
been employed by Wagner, who introduces Sig
lrrnd Sigurd or Sicrfried, and Brynhide through
1ha plstclu OF music to tna temple Of Song wherein
Nj Morris now iustalls them. The meter. although
not original is originally treated, as viii be seen
from tie opening lines:
Their, was dwelling of Kings ere the world was wazen
Dukcs were the dcor.wards there and the roofs
Bars w,ro tic WI. It's that wrought It, ana silver nac
FL. wives were TIC weaving queens daughters
And The masters OF lis sonc-crat the mi-ticsi
Tho f"iS OF the storm Of battle adown te bclcrine blast
III r dUc.t men ncriy yhoIJei ana III nope exceeding
Met tie GOOD DAYS and evil they the way Of
TLcsc the Gods were unforgottcn, yea whilcs they
Tloa.l t1n IN jhc worlds beginning a murmur
O re mid aid ,iiuo and the fading ard the last Of the
Au uc cg;crlg in Of The terror and the death OF the
PEOPLES Praise.
Thus Vas the dwelling OF volsuns the KIM OF the Md
&. rGs. III the Winter season, candle in the dark;
AID as in al otter matters twas all earthly houses
Aud c least of its wallluns.hicds was a'alteworIds
s. therein vltha WAS a marvel and a glorious thing
For amidst q is midnos; Aallnoor arang up mighty
Ina rca,cd its blessings rootward, and wreathed the
Wiz TIC roIy OF the Summer and the garland Of the
tGoW Tot loa they called Volsung changed his
IL, davs 0: iar promise, and his noontidc Of the
Ills we ci battegcapus and the gan.crns Of his
Hagc bred II, many a story and named a uamc;
Ard TIen eH tCil o. Noisun, they call thtt wa!-dkcS
Tia: crowned stcm tnc Bla.socS; and SO was 1t told
NN;0 Hc.
The peculiar character OF these alcXandnncs
eprr& from the use OF ALTERATION, az in the Old
saga-ne;t,Hre and the Introduction Of an InapTStIc
foot into each member of the line. If the verse
sometimes falls into TOO much Of a skipping move
mcMt il never becomes pOnd"TouS, and even the
gloomy scenes Of the tragedy are hghtened by the
paural j'"ou,ness of It's music. Ii IS singular that
whila thctc s % lttlc Sunshine in Nr. M0rri>s
poems drawn from Greek sources, the stern Gothic
lcacud breathing Of Northern mist and cold. should
SO SPARKLE with light and color lie has tsund a
Lew atmosphere. The BAD and often languid tone
Of lis rrevioUs Poctry has ceased. and Ue lear il
stead the sound Of 4 horn which the brceZcs love to
cary and tie echoes to repeat 1t is impossible 10
read cuy PAGE Of the poem without pcrccviDg some
touch which ind. the accomplished artist. In
the changing pictures. each tint or tone is given
with the ease AID certainty Of hand that knows
no further technical difficulty Take for example,
this passage from the inst meeting of Sigurd and
Ilymiildc:
So ,hey climb the burg of Hindeil and hand in hand
III. ii ahon. aa ,oye thcm is uoreh but tie suo air.
Aud cfc clo&& they cling together rejoicing in their
Tor Tar away beneath tlcin e tc kingdoms earth
md dc -.t., q. ma 'ok's dwellings and tho streaans
tii"t water thcui,
AND the ard plcntcous acres. ard TIC 3Pcr occas
Lcm,
And 90 woeoaana wastes and r-c mountain ma all
TIE aud hc enp and the island tic loom ld the
Til, I". 5 lsc aud healing, Tie casts tlat slay and
Tlc toaIlt of God and ;lc Doom2ias, the cradle and
1acl uahc the v'cio.y-wa'c~: 90 Giag of tho Earthly
a. D'J lou Jcno,d,st tee treasure and the joy Of
AZ. ,a,.r On ac WINS Of LIS hope is tic spirit Of
VT t.t t.... ,,r,,. ~, . i, oi,r ~, m co-l.