New-York tribune., 1883-06-17
ENGLISH POETRY.

LIVING ENGLISH POET5 MDCCcLAAAiIi loho'
DID. Xxx, S39 Robs rts Brothers.
The ANONYMOUS editors of this attractive bOok
claim for the principle which has directed them
certain novelty NJ least ar far as regards living
writers. They have prepared au anthology which
aims at being no casual or desultory assemblage of
beautiful poems but one which presents III ehrono-
logical order examples OF the highest attainment,
and none but the highest, OF the principal poets OF
our own aee.D They declare-and as 1t seems TO u.s.
the declaration is justifed-that they have exhibit
ed r.o partaity toward any one school; they nave
honestly sought TO illustrate the whole range OF
eoHtemporafy English poetry in its best express
sion; aud although the collection embraces only
thirty-sx authors, there is 'no living writer OF
verse whose works have enjoyed any reputation
either IN a wide or narrow circle, to whom they
have not given their unbiased consideration
Two poes have refused 90 he inclaaed in the book,
and the obstinacy OF these two unfortunate men IS
punished by the following specimen of irony in the
Preface: "An eminent writer whose verse deserves
to be no less widely read thsn is his prose has de
ened TO be bound with others in a selection and
while this is in one sense great regret 10 the ed
i;ois, it is net wholly without its compensatons
since all readers who are aware of the omission of
any fav0rite poet will OF course consider That be,
their faVOrie Apollo is tEe ustidious one who las
refused to allow his flowers tobe tRined in the gen
elal garland. The other has succeeded IN forget
ting the fight of time. and being Therefore unwilling
that others should take note Of that swift passage
of years which blanches poetic locks. rs un-
wiling to comply with the chronological system
which is an essential part of the editors plan.'
This ia certainly reat and an ample revenge.
Whoever the unyie6ing two may be, their omis-
sion is probably not dreadful misfortune. since ab-
solute completeness is aot necessary to the general
SUCCESS Of the present plan. The use OF the stnct
chronological aIrangen ent which distinguishes this
from other selections of contemporary verse is TO
exhibit at glance the tendency of the poetry Of
time but any rule which might be adopteSNn carry
ing out such scheme would be sure toresutin some
unfortunate exclusions. For example, II is one of
the most obvious qualifications to be demanded ofa
con temporary that he should be alive; bHt ;liis
exaction which admits Cardinal Newman. excludes
ROssetfi. Now Neyman's poetry, beautiful as il u.s.
does rot belong 10 the literary movement Of orr
day. while Rossett's much Characteristic of the
ago as SwinLurGe's. Thus il is only approximate
ly that such au anthology as this can realize the
scheme of Itsmalers fthey had adopted different
pian and chosen illustrations of the poetry OF our
day solely by its intrinsic qualities shuifius ont
the survivors of past era and inclndiug thcyoung-
er singers whose voices were premaiurely hushed
only yesterday, it would have been found practical
general result would have been less satisfactory than
il is now Whether or not the editors have kept
their promise of printing examples of the highest
attaiuu,eut and nons but the highest" of the
peets who have passed their examination, is
question upon which critics nOt likely 10 agree.
IL Wal be admitted onali hands that tbespecimens
of each author are too meagre to gave fair idea OF
his or her best work but in nearly all cases-even If
We may not say in all-tte typical productions are
represented, although tho range of individual power
NAV be very .mperfectiy indicated.
This after al, is the most important thing if we
wish to trace the direction of the extraordinary and
auent tide of poetry which has enriched the iItera
ture OF England during the. period covered by this
volume IT is long course reaching from Sir Henry
Taylur, who was born IL the year 1900 down to
Gosse. Marzals Lang. and the Oiher nevmen whose
Eamos are jast becoming familiar. The lyrics
selected from Sir Henry TaYlOr's dramas might
have been written in almost any decade Of this
fury. In r. II. Horne, who closely follows him, the
echoes OF q past generation are poreeptible
Tenuyson represents the poetry Of our time in It's
meridian splendOr, full of the vigor and aspiration
of o new life, and glowing with complete and sen
suous beauty which has not yet become the object
of worship for ats own bare sake Robert Brown
ing is tie last of the great singers. After him
with Il brief and hesitating pause at Matthew
Arnold-follow the lesser bards in whose polished
and musical lives we mark the progress Of decline.
The pensivo and refined school, the passionate pagan
school and the dainty school which revels in
minnie description or clothes slight thought In the
choicest expression. lead straight to debased
literature, barren of high aspirations and real
creative force hut adorned by the ripest and most
brilliant culture