New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Poems AND BALLADS Third Series. BY Aleernon
Charles swinburne. 12mo, pp Isl. Worthihs
ton Co.
Mr.. Swinburnes third series of poems and bal
lads contains some fine verse and much also winch
viii confirm the aversion Of those who find his
Roridness and verbosity uncompensated By depth
Of thought and aggravated by obscurity OF en-
preston. Those who admire Mr.. Swinburne most
temperately and reasonably find in him an alto
gether unsurpassed melody and delicate sense OF
rhythm which lends 70 all his verse the sitisiac-
tiou of perfect music Those who hold that poetry
shopId he greater in matter than manner, ana VINO
will not rest content with it's employment lor
purely decorative and sensuous purposes, protest
AGAINST his verse as nsuficiently charged with Sig
uifeapce. They grant its melody, its wealth OF
words it's alendor of imagery, the tropical iuNurl
amer of its style but they affirm that these orna-
menta features do not offset certain intehectuai
shallownsss and aridity an aridlty winch 's music
rather emphasizes than conceals save 1or those
readers whose own mental needs are completely
satisfied with external Inagnifcence. and seek no
further.
In Mr.. Swinburne's new volume the poetry is
what WAS TO have been expected from his later
STYLE. lie has finally discarded the extravagant
sensusiisan of the Laus Veneris' epoch, and has
taI1en into a prayer and more ambitious strain
There are here two poems Of considerable IehRtn
and importance. or these, " The Armada VIII
Inevitably attract the more attention, though Inc
CommonwealS can show finer separate verses EN-
bodyine deeper thought in clearer language nv
Armada is a decidedly picturesque poeni' anu u.
subiect furnishes Mr.. Swinburne opportunity !"
indulge that passionate love Of the sea which %
marked characteristic in him. At 'he o"
time the destruction Of the great Spanish ue'
nartly by mans hand and partly by fhe lut' y,
wind and wave, iustifes, and perhaps wv. -
nands, largcness of treatment well -
Az, Suinburnes genius In the rush ana s"eep
and freedom Of his verse; ana III i's III -,oou,
chime and ring he is at his best. and the poem
go ,n majesty sometimes in the intensity OF its
lvrio passion. Yet the poets very laclIiN u
,,rs;aoa+ion zoo often tempts him 10 an ehusi'e-
noes which is essentially wordy, and II seems az
- aaI;rh, IN moro ussonance led him to excuses
,,h;cb diminish the effect OF his work. ID Ole
ros,ec. he has in THE Armada" attalneu nore
com nsteness than ever before. His poetic 1mnsi
t,or nc rule lacks graphic power. when nc n''
,.mnts description he is rarely clear. But III I"e
n,otnrs NJ the sca-Gght and the oncomlng STORM
and the wild drift Of the scattered Armau" 1T
shous unite n new capacity, and he has dr'"h
pcture which stands out Dolby
Tbere ia much variety in this volume NeA'
70 the noble ode mentioned above IN lnipor'"no'
10 q The Commonwea," q patriotic poem contain
inc strong and earnest thought. MIR. swnouFiE
always writes gracefully and dantiiy oil chilurrn'
and though Wordsworth's central IDEAS IN "'
~ Ode 70 Immortality" ore here employed ooluiS
and with comparatively little change, the beauty
ond tenderness of the child poems is indisputaole
The ballads are less effective this form OF Ver'i-
ecat,on not being consonant with Mr.. Swinburhe
intellectual processes. In the ballad the narr"
tive Gift is most needed and terseness is also de
manded. Now Mr. .Swinburne has not the Eli. Vi
terse and strong narrative. lie Is apt 10 i's'
sight Of the main action In following "cc'sSut''o
and his riotous fancy plays him strange tricks al
,;mcs. His new volume is full Of pO"er in many
forms and of considerable achievements IN vcrsi
6caton. 1t does not fall behind either OF It's pre-
decessors in these respects, and in one other re
ferred to before, it exhibits saner and more
healthy spirit.