New-York tribune., 1877-01-02

saga nor the NibClungon Lay, and must 1nVolun-
tary rs we read contrast their bare, rugged tragc
simplicity with the amazing literary opulenco whlch
Mr. Morris has lavished upon the story. Indeed,
much of his work may hc called illumination rather
than painting. He writes as il with Gothic letters
on emblazonCd vclum. The action continually ioscS
itself in the descriptions the simplest scenes are so
carefully wrought that there is no surplus iei lor
the supreme situations, and therefore the awaken
ing of Brynhidc or the death Of Sigurd makes less
impression upon than many of the unimpor'an'
e,i.odcs Sgurd first appears III the second BOOK,
and dies IN the third, but the story goes on throen
fonrth Book TO include the Staying of the Niblungs
in the hail Of Atli. as in the Mbe'unGenhed
There was no necessity for giving the whole group
of related legends unless Mr. Morris had respecteh
their original forms This he has not done, athough
his variations are few and skillfuy made. The
forging of the sword the Staying of Fafnir inc WOO
ing OF Brynhilde, the treachcry OF Chricmhld' me
Eiblung treasure and all other large characteristic
features of the story are retained; but they arc pre-
sented with so much illustrative detail that the ac
ton resembles the movement of shadows on
painted wall. poem of half the length beginAlng
and ending with the hero Sigurd. and marked by the
singers restraint no less than by his Indulgence IN
his gifts wond have been greater work. lie mas
large lungs as we have said, yet the DURATION
the S0,cRutO OF voice seems to us less important
than its sympathetic quality. We have read the
story Of SIgurd the VOlsung with continually re-
newed surprise and an admiration which al laSt DC
came little adcd from the similarity Of the cfectS
employed. At the close. we cannot remember nav
ing experienced single impulsion to love or nate 10
fear or crievc CT shudder; and we feel that INC
authors chief delight in his own creation springs
from its technical perfection.
We close with one moro Quotation,-an elaboTatcly-
C., uhilIp her taupStTV,
The reader will notice that Mr.. Morris at least has
caught the secret of making catalogue poetical:
But woman sits Oh the higIseat with gold about her
head,
And rndy rings her and the Of her glrle
And snn is her rpped linen, aud the green leaves lie
And cen rs swan on the bow where the firth and the
OutSca meet. 90,
On Gc dar..-bue cloths she sttch. so fair and softly
Are hcT limbs by the linen hidden, and white is she
But Web of gold is before her, and therein by her
shuttle wrought , .,. j., ,, so,
And Tue cl0wGed queen over sgmund and the Helpers
And nc golden babe urifted TO the eyes of duke and
Ana lrc was the slender stripping by the knees of tho
Ana the 80 ancient Grrr and the forging of the
Aad bcrs were the coils of Faur aud the hooded threat
And .hc KING ~ c cooking-fre, and tie fowl OF tie
tItteIiug Heath;
And tcta was tne hraIcss King smith and the golden
htlis %: the NOrlu,
Aud Tie adrI. Grcyon arng through tic land Of per
ISle storm;
Auj taefe Was she mead Of Hind'e and tie flames &
the Sky door t.,vca
IhC SIt.JTing S.CdbuTG, and tnC iaioW
bondage uYCn:
Ana n re was the wakening and tie golden
Nol,UgE dync,
And iLcs ,.uu earthly kingdoms IN the Lonely
"yen!.- sui;
And hric @cre fcls and forests and and tossing
seas ,
AnI e Wrath and tc golden sigd for ever hiCnt with
t..s.,
In llI- mil, OF TIE hltlo Triumphant in tie midst #
IL. Wal-kinca' fan,
In the midst he ncce wcll-con4ncred the midst OF
the rt,isIn1s hail.