The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-21
ORR LITERARY BUDGET.
,.crryoy swINBURNE, THE POET
49,, oo,x Among Victorian Poets to Lord
Tennyson and Robert ro"ni"H-"
Uichcst Achievement

Tho English poet, A. g.. swinburne' mas
won a high name during the long reign o'
o,ocn Victoria. lie ranks only second 70
Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning by 'ne
common consent Of the accutest, sanest an"
strongest c~giiics-among the poets 'n'",
solves. who are always the best oII'0' -
noe,ry from the nature OF things Inc ="
ouisi,e charm Of his verse, his perfect ""o-
tow Of the technique OF bis art, his sp'e"'"'
,rlumphs in TIE effects Of bis numOo'o
richness. the splendor, the melody ."'
fo,d excellencies Of his varied eAPeIIn iong
ali kinds OF Vcrsihcation-these other
been the admiration ana tne SIPfc,orian era
.oo,o Only one singer OF the 'iOtv'I ~
loo'ac ,oheJ his harp with an equal sNiI -
49, 49, csnabilities OF the Enslsh Vonsro
~D"nd"cInc a. unique and melodlOus en00
:" t.of,an or Greek or any other nsuS2o
a. Tnoiien critic. Mr.. Robert ohlnuIeI'
thinks no has surpassed even 'ono oofdnai
who has a place apart on "a rasnocts
Uelicon"-Tennys0n- SVH +, the whole
and ..stonds without a paraiei u 'n0 ~
=" ~ our literature" This refers hn"inIy
80 oxcellonce Of his Nersihcalloh' We
su~prfGJnbnrne has been exceedingly prohhc,
both in verse and prose Inc quT"t'!
yerse il euormOus. considering uiaI nc puD
lisbed his .hrst important DUN az i"VS 1" .
1860. There IS but Little OF MS pV0el. P""iiv
,ion that is not elaDOIalely anu dll'Stio'I''
-',hnd His numbers are always moving
" ~, ..,,n an enhancing melody. Much oil ms
- yerse was sensuOus and offensive 10 the
r,,er Tastes of his age. lie IS "a poet u We
r,aa5 for his command over the resources OF
technical skill and for the spienuor OK MS
imaginative glow as well as beauty VI
thought. While much j. "neshly,' theie 10
much of ideal perfection. as well a7 no iioto
that is philosopher ana even elHPnisi
Tbere will be found also much that's gloomy,
desnairing. even distressing, "a 10 The tone OIL
thought. but all set forth win marvellous
finish and elegance Of dictlOn and perfection
Of ,ythm. His philosophy Is not a nealthlul
and inyigOrating exercise, ana toulu npl nc
Win a denial of all thai i OF God. Iasan
in the nineteenth century cannot slIlhe i
satisfied and human note oil sons' ho"e'0i
high the power or exquisite Inc art
~wsnburne's highest achievement IN e'h-i"7
the note of despair and perhaps oil lAspiia-
lion il i'm ..Atalanta in Calydon.' wuele MS
Greek studies and French habit oil thinking
are most manifest in their attainment Oh ne
lest prolonged movement oil Thought PdSsIou
and EXPRESSION. At any rate, the critics STOP
LONGER over the cleyeTnCSs IN TINS poem Oh Ihe
anfiaue. and have more u~nTesi@heu No'nli@-
tion for it than perhaps OF any olneI vi nIs
manifold productions. For instance, his lateeI
nr;,,c and eulooist. Mir. Sbindler, saws OF that
..maguifcent chorus that IT IS "lor m'Jesy
of rnvtbmical movement and merry Veheinence
such as would have sufiiceG alone 10 give us
author a place in the front rank oil poetS.
lie comedies that there il "a sense OF hOPelees
struoele against Almighty power" ana d
e.pathetic h0pelessness,'' and even "a despair
ingimpiety." Wilmington (N.C MeSsensoi'