The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-11-27
Recent Publications.

The Boys King Arthur, being Sir Thomas
Malory's History of King Arthur and his
Knights OF the Round Table. edited for boys
by Sidney Lanier. and illustrated by Alfred
Kappes, is published in elegant style by Charles
Scribners Sons, New York, and is sent in BY
LoriDg, Short s. Harmon. Mr.. Lanier has
certainly again chosen we'll in taking the
three volumes of Malory's old romance to con-
dense into one for the delectation of modern
boys. Although Master Nicholas, in Don
Quixote pronounces Amadis de Gaul to be
the best of its kind, we cannot take the same
interest in the supernatural events of that
chronicle which we find in the more simple
and natural history Of King Arthur. The
same may be said of Boyardo's Innamorato and
Ariostos Furioso, and only in Froissart and in
the Chronicle of Little Jehan de Saintre do we
find picture Of Chivalry so truthful and so
charming. Tennyson has done some admira-
BILE work with the Arthurian legends, and his
picture OF Launcelot, is unequalled:
His broad clear brow in sunlight glowd:
On Furnished hooves his warhorse trode;
From underneath his helmet How'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode
As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He fashd into the crystal mirror
"Tirra lirra," by the river
49, Sang Sir Launcelot.
liberties with his originals and done great in
jnstice to Launcelot and Guenevere in pictur-
ing Arthur as perfect. All the legends agree,
and the manners Of the time assure us that
Scott was correct in speaking CT the valiant
Carodac:
Yet, since but one of that fair Court
Was true to wedlock's shrine
Brand him who will with base report,
he shall be free from mine
Lanier has been wiser. He has adhered
faithfully to his original yet has eliminated all
the grosser stuff and given only the pure chiv-
airy. This leaves many puzzling questions Of
motive in the mind of the reader, but hardly
more than does the irregular grouping Of the
stories in Mallory. 1t is possible that he has
preserved too much of the obsolete language
to interest young lads, but they can scarcely
fail to follow the sparkling narrative at fair
distance. 1t is certainly desirable that our
youth should change their aspirations for the
life OF pirate to that of knight errant,
and 1t is sign of healthy growth in the pub
lie taste that it is being led back to these
original founts Of literature.
Kappes' illustrations are fair. The frontis-
piece, Sir Turquine bearing Sir Ector out of
his saddle, is spirited and so is the winning of
Excalibur. The Dolorus Stroke is simply fam
tastic and untrue, for Balm did not strike him
in the throat; as Mallory says he lay many
years sore wounded until Galahad healed
him. The Knight of the Black Lawns is
good, and SO is the Sousine of Sir
Dagonet, and the Harper singing before King
Mark. Galahad brought to the Siege Perilous
is altogether bad. The Round Table will seat
but dozen, as represented; Launcelot looks
like Jew, and Galahad like a middle-aged
man instead of youth Even the inscription
on the chair is in Roman instead of in Black
letter. Launcelot at the Castle of the Holy
Grail is very good; likewise the Tournament
at Camelot. Queen Guenever's Peril makes
the Queen look very ugly. The Combat of
Mordred and Arthur is strong and good, and
so is Bedevere bearing Arthur to the Water-
side, although we doubt the propriety of MAX
ing the scene so rocky and barren In the sto-
ry we read that "even fast by the bank hoved
little barge" The same remark will apply
to the bleak hills about the lake where Arthur
got the sword. 1t was 80 fair water and q
broad" and Merlin and the King "tied their
horses to two trees.'
1t does not follow that where dark deeds are
done the scene must be desolate War ever
blasts the fairest fields, and Moore sings of
show man has cursed what heaven made so
glorious" Artists who undertake to illustrate
fine books should study their subjects We
want more good work and less "broad treat
ment" sB
One of the most charming and unique gift
books for the holiday season is Miss Rosina
Emmet's illustrations of Pretty Peggy and
other Ballads The delicate, old-fashioned
charm of these drawings, with their soft and
faded tlnts, are in perfect keeping with the
songs which they accompany-songs that our
grandmothers sang in their young days to the
purr OF the spinning wheel, or the silvery, thin
tinkle OF the harpsichord There is an an old
time fragrance lovering about these ballads
and pictures as Of flowers that withered fifty
years ago, and rosemary for remembrance"
1t is not the least merit Of the present fancy for
ancient fashions, thatit revives so clearly the
details of the bright youth of those that we have
known only in their latter age, and gives to
the present the sympathy-without which. there
is no perfect understanding-with the past.
Pretty Peggy is charmingy illustrated, and
the pictures that tell the story Of the maiden
who begged to "stsy little longer" at the
ball. are arch and dainty. These two ballads
are evidently more fitted to Miss Emmet's
manner than the others of the volume-to
which her illustrations, though quite spirited
and we'll colored-lack somewhat of the point
and grace of the former sketches. (New York:
Dodd s Mead; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony
Four Centuries OF English Letters. Edited
by W, Baptste Scoones. New York: Harper
s. Bros; Portland Loring, Short & Harmony