New-York tribune., 1878-06-21
4 COLLEGE BREAKFAST PARTK.

NEW POEM BY GEORGE ELIOT.
George Eliots new metaphysical essay in
blank verso appears this week in Harpers Basar. At
an oxford breakfast assemble these guests;
Young Hamlet. not the hesitating Dane,
But one named after him who lately strOye
FOrhOnOrs at our English Wittcnberg-
Blonde metaphysical, and sensuous,
Questioning all things, and yet half cOnVlnced
Credullty were better; held Inert
TWixt fascinatiOns OF all OppOstes;
And half suspecting that the mightiest soul
(Perhaps his own D was union Of extremes,
iIaying no choice but choice Of every thing:
As drinking deep to-day for love OF wine,
Tomorrow half Brahmin scOrning life
Az mere illusion, Yearning for that True
Which has no qualities another day
Finding the fOunt OF grace I'm sacraments,
And purest reflex Of the light divine
In gembOssed pyN and brOidercd chasuble,
Resolved to wear no stockings and TO fast
With arms extended waiting ecstacyy
But getring cramps instead aud needing changer
"''' .,.Y Young Hamlet sat
At breakfast with HOratiO, a freud
With few opinions, but faithful heart
Quick TO detect tho nbrous spreading roots
or character that feed mems theories,
Yet clOaking weaknesses with charity,
And read In all service save rebuke.
With ebb OF breakfast and the cider-cup
Game high debate the Others seated there
Were Osric, spinner Of fine sentences,
A delicate insect creeping over lie,
Feeding on molecules OF floral BREATH
And weaving gossamer to trap the SUM-
Laertes, ardent, rash and radical;
Discursiye ROsencranz grave Guildenstern,
And be for whom the social meal was made
The polished Priest, tolerant listener,
Disposed to give hearing 20 the lost,
And breakfast with them ere they went below.
Here Is promise Of brave voices" and they fulfil it.
From Alpine metaphysic glaciers first
The talk spraug cOpiOus the themes were old,
But so Is human breath, so infant eyes,
The daily nurslings Of creative light.
Small words held mighty meanings: Matter, Force,
SELF Not-self, Being. Seeming Space aud Time
Plebeian tOllers on the dusty road
Ofdaily traffic turned TO Genii
And cloudy giants darkenng sun and moon
What conS Sderatlon and what each guest gives
TO what" and wherefore" may be conjectured from
the character taste ascrbed to him. At last Hamlet
says:
For you will grant
The Ideal has discoveries which ask
No test. no faith, save that we 10y In them:
A newfOund continent with spreading lands
Where pleasure charters all, where virtue, rank
Use right, and truth have but one name Delight.
Thus Arts creations, when ethefeQized
To least admlXture Of the RrOsser fact,
Delight may stamp as highest"
"Possiblew
Said Guildenstern, with touch of weariness,
" Butthen We might dispute Of what Is gross,
what high, what low"
"Nay," said Laertes, task
The mightlest makers who have relgned, stil reign
Within the ideal realm. See II their thought
BE drained Of practice and the thick warm blood
OF hearts that beat In action various
Through the Wide drama OF the struggling world.
GOOdby, Horatio"
Each now said " Good-by.D
Such breakfast such beginning OF the day,
Is more than half the whole. The sun was hot
On sOuthWard branches Of the meadow elms,
The shadows slowly farther Crept and Veered
Like changing memories, and Hamlet strOed
Alone and dubious on the empurpled path
Between the waving grasses OF new June,
Close BY the stream where wo-oompacted boat1