New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17

whom Mt length the old manOr-house -" passcn 10
the lxrcp OF n brave ncw-nedged lord,' VINO was
about 10 marry and resolved that the venefap'e
nile should be rehabilitated in honor OF ms oriue'
" And now behold what strange thing came TO pass
A certain workman, in the eastern Wihs,
plying his craft slow as the day waned-
One Gregory Nokes, very honest soul.
BY trade wood-earyer1stumpied GA a uoor
Ieadipg to nowhere at an alcOvcs end,
a double door that OF itself swung back
In such strange way that no man ever saw'
And there, within closet, on the f1sgs. g.,
Were two grim shapes which, vaguely seen NJ hrSO
In the haf-light, grew presently distinct -
Two gnomos vampires seemed they, or dire lmps
Straight from the Pit, in guise fantastical
or those and doubet; one stretched at full lehgth
Supine and one in terrOr-strickcn sort,
Half topped forward on the Bonded knee, /.
Crashing with vise-lilSe grip the others wrlso, ,
As who should say, Arouse thee, sleep no moreF
Pnt said It not III they quick or dead
No sign they gave beyond this sad dumb show
blurred one face was yet luminous like the moon.
Caught in ot the Sec " network wfoo Of Sl9nd
When the wind crinkles 1t and makes all'dlm
The other. drawn and wrenched by mortal throes
And in the aspect such beseechng Look,
As might befall some poor wretch called TO compt
On heisudden, even as he kneels at prayer.
With "Mercy!" turned TO frost upon the hp.'
The frightened workman shrank to the nearest
window and called softly to his comrades to come
"P' "but ere foot could climb the stair.
Or the hearts pulse count the sum OF ten.
Through both dread shapes, as at Gods finger
touch,
A SILVER ran the wavorng outlines broke
And suddenly chill and mist-hke breath
Touched N0kes's cheek as he at easement leaned
And paught was left Of that most piteous pair
Save two long rapicrs OF some foreign make
Living there crossed, q mass iof 1aliey rust
We have of necessity passed over all but the chief
dramatic indications of Mr.. Aldrich's fine poem. 1t
abounds in beautiful descriptions, graceful and
Jolfoofa fancy and feEcitous nbro is char
acterzed throughout, the extracts here given
must show, by crystalline clcarness of thought
and expression. In dramatic power and effective
ness "Wyndham Towers" ranks high. and
there is no waste of material in
it, The Story, in itself most impressive
blending tenderness, pathos and dark tragedy in
one thrilling episode is made to yield the utmost
of which the situation is capable. In employing
this somewhat harsh and rugged motive MIR
Aldnch has applied just enough poetic spirit to the
theme to refine idealize and dignity it. The
color and form of the Elizabethan period are, we
may say, rather suggested and limited at than
insisted upon. There u.s. Of course, no room In II
dramatic narrative poem for the indefinite. The
soul Of such composition is lncidity and distinct
ness Forfeiture and description there should
and must be- but the prevailing tone must be
given by the final purpose Of the work, which IS
to represent ordered action the plane OF strong
emotion. This calls for certain compactness
and alcrtneSs of vcrsifcaton. Reflection, if adj
mitted at all, must be succinct and brief in ex-
preston, and subordnated TO the prime necessity
which is the steady and vivid development of the
dramatic motive. II would he difficult to adduce
better example Of this cl1ss Of poetry than
Wyndham Towers which, whether we consider
ifs mechanism, the interest Of its theme, the
sllful progress of its development, the richness
decacy and grace of its inn gnatiun, the i'm
presSivenc.S OF its ragic elements, the salts
| faction winch il affords the intellectual demand
for powerful action, based on intense emotion,
adequately and highly presented, seems to us en-
the kind that have been published in many years