New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-06

behind wall TINT he might sre
him. It was in such experiences that he
with the thoughts and feelings OF many classes
OF men and women Miss Fox records the remark
Of Samuel Laurence, the painter that he was
the strongcsmnded OF all ms scqqnih nance,
1hackcray called him the wscst man he knew
When he printed, in 1912 q revision OF his
earlier poems, together with a considerable number
Of new pieces the growth OF his intelicctuai
powers. the expansion of his range Of fancy, and
the improvement Of his art were oil manifest.
It was partly, no doubt TO his country wander
incs that we owe the English ldylS,' for which
The Gardeners Daughter Dora "Audlcy
Cont Edwin Morris" "Thc Talking Oak
gave distinct ana novel favor 10 the collection;
and fixed his fame rs an dyllc poet beyond az
questioning Yet there were other pieces which
rivalled them both in beauty and in ircshncSS.
Here we found the exquisite fragment, Norfc
d'Arthur," which presaged the fuller studies OF
q later time, and revealed TO delighted poets o
now music of blank vcrs', remarkable
for an original combination Of supple
ness, grace and dignity. To what varied
this difficult and treachcrous measure we saw In
the English idyls, in Godivn, in " ST. simeon
Stylses,- in Ulysses and some less famous
essays: hut II is in the romance Of Arthur that
that piece,
So all day long the noise OF battle rolled
Among tho mountains by the winter sca,
will probably long be quoted rs models OF sonorous
and exalted verse. tingCd with an inde'inable
beauty which limitations can no more copy than
one can catch a rainbow. But the list lines,
which describe Sir Bcdverc watching the passing
Of Arthur in his barge, seem TO us no less adj
mirabc:
Revolving many memories TIL The hull
f.ookd one black dot against tho verge Of dawn
And on the mere the wang dol away.
nc ,,rsrr,r 1T ou Avn DArNT-y rMAcTpy
We have spoken Of The Talking Oak" in con-
nection with the English idyls, 10 which ii be
longs by its subject; hut in manper it belongs 20
another class Of pieces, of which this volume
gives exquisite examples. pieces which fascinat,
us by their musical flow, dainty imagery, and that
distinction Of treatment only in the work Of
the consumma,, artist. The age Of the gentcel
vcrsifcrs produced nothing more elegant, and 70
this grace Of manner was added a mutual feeling
and scnsibility which the ecntccl vcrsi1ers knew
very little about. "Thc Day Dream is one of
tie hnppicst examples OF this manner. The same
touch Is disccrnible In the music Of three
pieces which differ widely from IL and
from each other" VIII Watcrproors Lyrical Mon
ologuc," St. Agnes and Sir Galahad' In the
last there some marvellous musical contrasts
How the opening stanza rings!
Ny good blade carvcs the casques Of men.
Ny tough lance thru'tetn SURF
Ny strength IS a the strength 81 ten,
The ' saaiier ns a trump, iparctA high
Tho hari brands silver on the steel.
The splinierd spcarshlns crack aud NY
Tho horse and rider rel;
They reel, hey ron IN Changing r l,a,.
Perfume and flowers fall In showers,
That lightly rain from ladies' hands.
And then read This passage, which nearly ali
lovers Of TcnDyson know by heart
mo.
find magic bark
leap board helmsman steers:
float III all l. dark
gentle sound, an awful light!
Three angels bear the holy Grail:
With folded feet In stOcs OF white,
Al blessed vision blood Of cod
Ny spirit beats her mortal bars
As down dark tides the glory slides.
And stag-lihc mnglcs with the stars
In beauty Of language and harmony Of move
mcnt English poetry has never surpassed these
lines The same volume contained Lockslcy
Hall" and some Of the finest of Tennyson's minor
pieces, including that perfect song; Move East
Clare Edward Gray and The Lord OF Bur
leigh" Mr. Sicdman Justly remarks that were
this volume 10 be lost. we possibly should be de-
prived Of "a larger specific variety Of Tcnnyson's
most admired poems than is contained in any other
of his successive ventures. IL powerfully
affected the rising group of poets, giving their
work "A tendency which established Its general
character for the ensuing thirty years.
TIE CRITICS PERpITXED.
The Princess his first long poem, appeared in
ls47 II proved that his flight was still upward
II showed all the beauties OF his earlier work,
brightness of fancy. felicity of diction, elegance
and grace in the movement and music Of the line.
with a new or at least a more complete, develop
mcnt of other gifts, skill in sustained narrative
and power Of thought. In second edition hc
added the wonderful songs. Z" As Through the
Land Sweet and Low" The Splcndor Falls. y
Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead and
Ask Me No More" which represent
his very highest attainment in the lyric
style But The Princess pcrplcycd tho
critics II was condemned for incon-
gruity which certainly can be charged upon It, and
Tor many faults from which it quite free.
IL Is not surprising that IL was mlslndgrd. The
transfer of nineteenth century social problems
back into some underlined era OF chivalry, the
mingllng of knighty cmprisc with advanced
schemes Of female activity, visions OF the tourn..
mcnt with portents Of the Harvard Annex, seemed
n bold, not to say defiant, claim OF the pocical
privilege But the Justification of such an eX-
pertinent Is success. The very auGacity Of the
story Is of its rarcst charms Incongruou~
as the elements OF II are, are not offended
by the incongruity while We read. We are
snatchcd away into realm OF pure romance
where hi gh adventure jostcs any philosophy, and
the lovely pcdants smile upon III from out their
lilac hoods like the gentle CenZcns OF an en-
chanted garden. The Princess" soon conque red
a place in the popular affection, and it has long
been Lcld in especial regard by the best Judges
Of poetry: perhaps the whole it has gained
more, with time, than any or Icnnyson's Other
works.
Ills next publication is by common consent
the greatest Of his works In Mcmorinin,
To get things clean in half the time;
e. 1otC o.,