New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sv1NBJJRNps LATEST SONGS.

sTT1DIEs IN SONG. By ALeERNON CHARLES SWIM
BURNE. 12mO, pp 2l3 H. "of'hhg'oh'
The pocms included in this volume are not
ssongs" in the popular sense OF that word II We
consider only their outward FORM Inc priheip"i
niece reaches the amplitude of an ode; there are
several sonnets and there is one study OF clearly
reflective and descriptive character when seems
TO be in no way adapted to musical treatment save
Inv the mclodious cadence of the rhythm ana inc
facile employment of ALTERATION. The lyrlc
uuality however in all the poems IS so strong tlC
The title cannot he called misnomer MI. sWlh-
burne has given us few better illustrations OF dis
extraordinary gift master OF the music oi IAN
guage. In the vigOr If statement, the rlchheSS "
imagery the scnsuous splenQor OF dlcuoh' Tue l"'
and easy flow OF the measure and the lascihati"s
ring Of thc RHYMES he shows here the secret of at
least a great part of his strength lie mas a s'l,o
of the forms of poetic expression akin to lItlan
sense of color. Here for example is picture OF
lonclif.ss and dcsoatOn. BY the North sea-
which could hardly be made more ehect'Fe'
The pastures are herdless and sheepiesi,
No pasture or shelter Tor herds
TIC wind Is relentless and seepless,
Aud restless and son slcss the bros;
from afar fau GREATNESS,
70. tie land las two 0ris that deathess;
baths self. AID The sea-
These twain as a king with his fellow,
Hold converse Of desOiafe speech:
And her waters are hAg'ari ana yei1}W
Grass with tie sCurl OF Inc i"'ttH'
Aud his garut ut1 ere gray "s ID" hodIN
And lis powcg ia to Nor, ana his glory
A. hers UniU nm.
In the pride Of his Tower she rcioices,
IN Ecr . CIV he CiOWs ana Is Eiau'
In her C:irhneSs the sound Of BIS voice ls,
WITT hi, breath she dlla.cs and * ma0
81. tbou STAY me, o dcGiit and oHtUVc ne
Yet t!Y love hath Untitled me o1 NEE
"SLaI give thee not BACK II thou give me
sister scar
There are certain turns Of expression Tor Wmch
Mir. Swinhurno has always had particular lono-
ness. and these scCm to be dcgcneratlnc INTO man
acrsms. "Loveli,r laughed the garden" 3" hcaV'
cnlcr place" If we live tru'icst,' :" her loVcheSt
love of ALL" are examples OF such forms OF phrase
ana here is part OF sanza in which their use is so
frequent as 20 be a positive Dcmlsh:
Aud ycIler daughter W MS most perfect hours
Than auy OF latter time or alien pld
Named, or wi h halT inv oven of Englsh nOWers
III. ior Ic1 n.ht Gi Athens All the Powers
Thai greed aud guarded round mat hottest race
Tuat he NcnEe.i aud most hiSn
Tune hath seen live aud dc'
etc Nor can it lie said that the poets love of allit
GRAFTON is kept within reasonable bonds. Reason
ablencSs. however, in any matter is pelhaps not 4
quality upon which SwiHbuuc would care 10
plume himself. The imperfect balance OF his mind
is sincuarly displayed in the longest and most i'm
por,ant poem Of this collection, a " Song foI the
Centenary of Walter Savage Landor." In spite Of
its frequently involved thought ITS obscuIty oi
Grammatical construction and IFS lapSes into the
extravaganza Of past generation which reYciltd in
fiery lirth-staIs and celestial pOrtentS there is
sllcnlOr and warmth of feeling i'll this rapturous
hymn to which 10 lover of poetry can be inscnsi-
BILE. But 10 student of English literature can
help feeling at the same time tnat Mr.. Swinburnc in
the fcryor of his enthusiasm has placed LandOr on
a pedestal altogether too high. The glowing verses
do not ndie in us an appreciation like that OF the
poet. but We read them with a protest. SWIM
barnes admiration Is sometimes as blind AMI Irantc
as his hate Here, however is a stanza from the
beginning of the Song which contains not only
poetry but truth:
Ere hight could kiss the little lids in sunder
Or love could lit them tor the sun to snlte,
His fiery birlh-star sgu OF wonder
Had risen, perp.e Xing the pfesagefdl night
With shadow aud glory around her sphere ana nhtter
Anl ror(ents prGphesymc by sound {. aud STINT;
And in the soft c'enchci hand
shone Ike burning brand .o
a shadOwy sword for swOrdless helds OF light,
% xs sS sy ONLY MIei fGF tS aeY sr ISEi
That all things iil be put 10 fear and ght
Even at the fash and sweep and CLEAN
OF swift stroke b,neld but i'll snuddering dream
And the concluding stanza deserves the same praise
Poet whose largely ed Loyalty Of love
Was pure toward all hgn poets all their kind
And ali bright words and Az sweet works thereof
Strong like the sun. and Ike the sunlight KIND;
Heart that no ear but eV|iy grief might move
WheIcwh mems hearts were bound OF powers that
bind;
The pures that proof could prove
From faint o. tOrtuOus OF OF envlOns NINA;
Whose eyes elite ana clear
NOr ,haie ever fear
Dut only pity or gorous wrath could Dhnd;
Name set for love apart
Held lifelong in my Heart,
Face like q fathers toward my lace inclined;
o gifts Ike lhiue mine Ia give,
Who 10y words only bid thee hail, and live.
"Otf Shore is a flaming song OF the splendOr and
brightness of the sea. its II Ost remarkable portion
being an Invocation of the sun, so bold IN express
sion and so fervid in sentiment that one can hardly
read the rapid verse without Quickening of the
pulse:
While yet make forward
With face toward thee
Nor turned yet III shOreward,
Is, thine upon me-
Be thy light NY forehead ever turn 1t again from
the sea.
As a kiss my brow
BE the light OF toy grace
BE thy glance on me now
From the pride OF tIy place:
As the sign OF sine be the light on my face OF
thy face.
Thou vast father OF Olden
Times baled and ad0red,
And the Of thy golden
Great haIp's mOuOchOrd
Was the joy III the soul Of the singers mat hacd thec
Tor master and lord.
Fa father Of all
II thy ways that have tr0d,
frl,.tl .y. NJ. "A al