The sun., 1883-12-09

In IN attractive little volume bearing the
epiEraph Lyrical Rccreniions UIcndon: Macmil-
lan) Mr.. SAMuKI. WARD has givon proof OF pos
sessng ono Of tho most graceful accomplish
ments coveted by men OF culture-the powor
of writing agreeable and finished rers dc
sociitt. Tho technical dcitncss and felicity
which mark many Of these poems. and tho
pleasing nbsence In them all OF anything like
sovenlness Of execution. attest patient
study OF the bost models from Horace to Hcine
and an assimilalive faculty that seems truly
noteworthy whom we learn that the authors
first venture in verse. rs he himsolf assures u.s.
was made at tho ago of nfty-two. There is. In
deed. in some OF those lyrical experiments q
nentness and compactness which IL might bo
hyperbolo to term Horatian. but which demon
strate keen appreciation Of tho specific mer-
its of the best Latin verse. There is In others
an niriness OF touch not unworthy Of
a faithful disciple OF B6ranger. 1t is
not to be supposed. however that those
modest compositions are offered by tho
author to his friends under any miscon-
ception OF their place In literature: no is far
from presuming to figure in the choir of those
singers whose accents enchant the ear and re-
main 10y forever: he means these slight pcr-
formances to be taken for precisely what he
calls thom. tho reoreations OF man who loves
poetry we'll. and would prove the sincerity OF
his fondness by doing some unpretentious. but
careful. work OF his own. It will be made man
ifest. we think. by some OF the lines that we
purpose cullng from this volume that Mr..
Ward has earned no lowly place among those
Wrists OF the drawing room with whom such a
man rs Praed hold 1t honor enough to rank
Hero. for example. are three stanzas which en-
body n graceful apology for the quality of tho
entertainment to which the reader Is invited:
When in my walks meet some rp,idy lad
u.S 0r swarthy man with tray y'beinien head.
" nose e., smile ne sntreats me or his visase sad
10 buy the images lie monds for bread.
think that though his poor Greek Slave in chains.
His. Hi Venus emu and her BOY with plaster dart.
BE like the orann grinders quaverng strains,
Hut farthngs In the currency OF art;
Such coins kinrly etfigy still woar.
ns,s Sas or SfS%ss o ta ss sT Prnys s
Nor ivory nor gold the crucifx.
In tho following lines we have charming
glimpse OF Tennyson ut his homo:
He dwerls in Britons fairest isle.
Within an vy;hirtled pile,
Mid flower broe aided turfs that lie
On chalk cliffs like the mnstrelsy
That broidereth his page.
Where Arthur,s dawning gores shone.
Though in his Walks tie spectral throns
While s Weep. arsHf% sir %aanesos. "ls sHos
In spells his pen had cast reioico,
Aud it's tones evnks
The calm procession Of his Drear
or Women Fair until the stream
or song by night was broke.
Next day. at evening a fnv0ring tide,
left the Isle, and by iiA side,
To speed the parting gueat
Stood she who held in either hand
A haxen child with golden baud
Casped round u crimson vest.
As on them burned day orRngeigIow,
My fancy pictured lvanhoe,
When love had crowned his joys;
RowenH. IN the bloom of life,
The mother still with beauty rife,
OF his two Saxon boys
Moss rope Pendennia when he cast
His petals on our northern blast
To scent Its wntry breath,
Swnre thou alone OF living
within ia widely reaching ken
WOuldBt long survive thy death.
Another came. whose sparkling glow
Might vie with the inspiring how
or Rhone or fairy Rhine.
And vowed thou vert no nnc chorite
For once he thee half the night
The cup with garlands twine.