New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-12

Ard countless wedding jewels shine,
And golden gifts OF grace;
lnevcr such wealth OF sun
In any shady place.
1t seemed heard the futtcring robes
OF madens clad in white
The clasping OF thou> and hands
In tenderest delight
While whispers ran among the boughs
or promises and praise;
And piay full. loving messages
sped through the lcafli ways
Then were there swayings to and fro;
The weeds aiiptoe rose;
And sang the breeze sudden song -
That sank 10 sndden close
And Just beyond the wreathed aisles
That cad against the blue.
The raiment OF the Wedding choir
And priest came shining through.
And though saw no wedding guest.
Nor Groom. nor gentle bride.
And holy love replied.
Soon will the engthening shadows move
unwilhne'y away,
Yet are not bid % stay
Hollow where the blue-blrd leads
And hear its soft "roodnight"
And aisles of novery light
Our next selection is in a gravcr mood though
The poet is exceptionally free from morbid senti-
pent gloomy forebodings:-
Though tangled hard lifes knot may be,
And YEARLY we rue IL,
Tue silent touch of Father Time
Come day will sure undo II.
Nothing IL late
In the Light that shines forever.
We faint at heart. friend is gone;
We chaIe at the worlds harsh drllingi
We tremDe al SORROWS on every side,
AT the myriad ways Of killing. =
faspsrrow FAN.
The Lord keepeth count forever.
lie keepeth count. We come we go,
But the measure To each OF veal or woe
God only can give or alter
re re s se,ds,h n niah;
And change goes on forever.
WHY not take life with cheerful trust
With faith in the strength OF weaknesst
The slenderect daisy rears It's head
with courage yet with meekness.
Hath holy grace.
To the Sun forever.
Forever and ever. my darling yes
Goodness and love are undylng;
Only the troubles and cares OF earh
Are winged from the first for flying.
Our way We plough
In the furrow 4" now"
Bu, sttsI the sips and ~, rowing tn the saeafi
And God keepeth watch forever.
The healthy spirit of Mrs. Mapes Dodge's poetry
Is always refreshing. like the company of cheer
fnl friend on toilsome road, and the reading Of
her pleasant verses will effective pro-
phylsctic against too somber views of life, or
spasms of moral Mysteries.
THE STUDY OF THE GREEK POETS BY JOHN ADDING
sYMoSDs. 2vols.. l2mo. Harper q Brothers
MIR. Symonds has here brought his rich clas-
sca learning excellent critical taste to the illus;ra
ton OF the Greek poets, forming admirable ntroduc-
ton 10 that branch ancient literature With
10 the much contested Homeric question. the author
considers 10 healthy criticism that scholars
are beginning acknowledge the unity Of the Had
that IL TO say, IL is patchwork OF ballads and
minor epics put together the OF Psstratus but
the work OF single poet who surveyed his creation
On artist and satisfied with its integrity Not that
bound TO pronounce opinion whether this poet
was named Homer, whether Homer existed, and
at what period of history he lived Nor 1t
say deny that the Had gives ample OF having
been constructed in great measure out OF material
already existing i'll national songs and ballads. The Had
doubtless had long cenenlogy through sntecedent
poems which are forgotten But after submitting
theory Wolf aud his followers to the most rigid tests
the aesthetic critic will not be disposed TO deny that the
Had In It's present form the work OF consummate
orst who chose from the whole Trojan tale central
subject for development and that oil the episodes in
the poem arranged with view to epic effects. Mr.
symonds's chapter on the idyc poems OF Greece pos
special interest only for the critical insight
eynced in remarks but for the charming discussion
of influence OF local scenery idyo compositon
Taking Theocritus example, the author declares
that we the secret OF his charm by sndyng his
poems spot They must be read the shores of
the Mediterranean, at An.ah Sorrento, among the
valleys of Mentone Like the lines OF the Scan idyls
these spots which seem TO be the garden Of
perpeual spring act OF beauty with sub
lie power aud soothe spirits with the majesty
classical reposc Mountains OF distinguished form, not
capped with snow clothed with pines, but carved OF
naked rock, rise from the beach without the
mystery or the sublim.ty, pcturesqueness OF the
Alps their beauty is well defined naked. and uLadorned
Light the glory OF these mountains. The
broad hilisides clothed with olives which spread
OF silver mist the skirts OF which saufed
by the idoless The gray olive bougns and the
blue sea produce Understandable harmony. The def
mite form and sunny brightness Of the olive tree suits
eur conception OF the Greek character They may well
have been the fayorite plant OF the wise and calm