New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

his volume OF the Heroes OF inc NduohS eeiioS
is largely based upen TIE authors Memoir OF Sir
Philip Sidney" which was published in 1862 MI.
Bourne, however, has given many fresh details
from new material brought TO light during the
past twenty five years by the researches of himself
and Others. and as he says While what had NJ
ready been said in terms that did not call for alter
alton has been reproduced this lie substantially
new book One important change of opinion In
the present wsrk is thus frankly noted by the
author: 81 am anxious to retract, and make such
amends az ! for, grave fault in the earlier
volume. Careful thought and investigation have
led me 10 repudiste the view there taken OF the
'AstrOphel and Stella episode that is, of Sidney
connection with Lady Penelope Devereux, AFTER
ward Lady Rich, and Of the circumstances In
which she became the heroine of his sohnets.
blunder in noting down wrong date, and conse-
Quently supposing that Lady Penelopc's betrothal
and marriage to Lord Rich took place in 1880 In
stead of $751; partly misled mo. This is oil the more
to be regretted because seme critics and biogra-
piers, who were net aware OF my error as 10 the
dates appear TO have been led thereby to overstep
the conclusions drew from it This is candid,
but it must be said that if Mr. Bourne has rectifed
his mistake, he has not been able to clear up the
mysterious surroundings of the "Astrophel and
Stella" episode, and that the solution he now adj
vances has the defect of improbability.
The avowed main purpose of this volume has
been to bring into prominence, and 10 keep al
ways in view, but without eXaggeration or distor-
tion the Chivalrous aspect Of Sir Philip Sidneys
life and its relations in that respect with the his
tory of his time and country with the cOntempora-
RIGS among whom he moved, who Influenced him,
and who were influenced by him." The space at
disposal however, has not permitted this pro-
eramme to be carried out fully, nor indeed are the
materials for carrying it out now available. There
has always been baffling element in the relations
Of Sidney to his time The reputation in which
he was held by his contemporaries, and the flood
Of euloees poured out upon his death, indicate a
personal influence almost without example. There
can DO no doubt whatever as to the genuineness Of
the admiration with which he regarded, in
short. But when the recorded events of his life
are dispassionately examined; when his literary
productions are closely studied feeling arises
that the amount and quality of the evidence in
sufficiently explain the greatness of his fame.
That the fame really earned we
are compelled 10 believe, so weighty are
the encomiums, enthusiastic the reports, of al
most all who knew the personally and famil-
iarly. But the knowledge which convinced them
has not descended TO us. Sidney had no Boswell,
though FGlke Greville might have played the role
had he been so minded The sayings and doinGs
which impressed his contemporaries mpst have
been those wbioh constituted the true active life
of him sayings and doings not for the most part
recorded. but which revealed his character and
aims and disposition Enthusiastically.
Nor can it be said that his literary work accounts
for the estimation In which it was held We do
not accept the snarng view Of Horace Walpole.
who will admit Sidney TO have had no other virtue
than great valor,' and belittles even that conces
sion by adding, But it was age of heroes
The cynical critic held that In full of all other
talents we have a tedious, lamentable. pedantic.
pastoral romance, which the patience Of young
virgin in love cannot now wade through and some
absurd attempts 10 fettor English verse In Roman
chains proOf that this applauded author under
stood little of the genius of his own language
IIazlitts contempt for the Arcadia" was not much
bebiEd Walpoles. Thus be wrets "Out Of five
hundred folio pages, there hardly, conceive,
half dozen sentences expressed simply and di-
rccty, with the sincere desire convey the image
implied, and without systematic Interpolation of
the wit, learning, ingenuity, WISDOM and ever
lasting impertinence Of the writer, as to disguise
the object instead of displaying it in its true colors
and real proportions" 1t may be said that this is
not the view now held of Sidney's book nor does
the more modern judgment agree either with Wal
pole or Hazlitt upon the value Of the same authors
Defense of Poesy." Walpole could not conceive
how man who in some respects had written duly
and weakly, and who, at most. was far inferior TO
our best authors, had obtained such immense rep
utation"
But there is another piece of evidence, of his
time which must carry weight, and which is illumi
mating. Fulke Grevile, who knew Sidney most
intimately, protested against his being judged by
his literary work. He says Of the Arcadia" 4:
Those that knew him well will truly confess 1t TO
be, both in form and matter. much inferior to that
of other mems works are many times raised above
the writers capacities and beside acknowledge
that however he could not choose but give them
espersions of spirit and learning from the fathers
yet that they scrbbled rather as pamphlets for
the entertainment of time and friends than any
count of himself TO the world; but the truth 49,
his end was not writing, even while he wrote, nor
his knowledge moulded for tables and schoos-but
both his wit and understanding bent upon his
heart, to make himself and others, not in words
or opinion, but in life and action, good and great.
In these last words, it seems to u.s. lies the key to
an understanding of Sidneys form. He strove 10
make himself good and great not In words or
opinion, but In life and action" He strove, as
would be said now, to lead the higher life. His
environment was favorable in some respects
.-unfavtraMe in otlfers IIib social tIositi~a
WAS unexcePtionable; but during the greater
part OF his brief career he chained to the
Court and compelled 10 waste his energies in
practising the arts Of the courtier among the OBJ
sequious crowd that humorcd the caprice shrunk
from the imperioushess of the tickle and exacting
Elizabeth
Even here Sidney showed something of his
mettle in the by no means prudent but brave and
honest letter TO the Queen protesting against her
design of marrying the Duke of Anjou. Some OF
Sidneye biosraphers have assumed that Elizabeth
was strongly influenced by this letter Mr..
Bourne, however is no doubt right in holding that
IL did not move her from her purpose, but that it
incensed her against Sidney, who, had he not been