The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-22


old. Arthur and Septirnius. Alfred
himself was third OF the seven sons
Of their father, and have indica-
ted his place by the starred vacancy
between Charles and Edward All of
these brothers wrote verse credit
ably. but Frederick and Charles were more
distinguished as poets than any Of the
others, Alfred alone excepted. In fact,
Frederick and Charles seem 10 have ex-
hibited a power and richness of quality
that would easily have taken them to the
front rank Of poets if they had only per-
severed as Alfred did. AS it is, much of
their work is Of very fine character. and
bears a close affinity to that of the laure-
ate. 1t is not easy now to find the books
which Frederick and Charles have writ
ten, with the exception of that which con-
tanned the formers very recently published
poetry. Frederick and Charles wrote
their more memorable poems long ago,
and then stopped suddenly short. Within
q few years Frederick resumed his pen,
and has shown that his cunning and
skill still remain. But il is doubtful if the
highly-fnished stories which he has told
at so much length will ever evoke perma-
nent interest The briefer lyrics of his
early days seem 10 be far more interesting
and durable.
Charles and Alfred were the authors of
the Poems by Two Brothers," in 1927.
The publishers of this volume were the
Messrs. Jackson. printers and booksellers,
az No. Louth. Lincolnshire. and they
showed some discernment and courage in
giving the young authors fl0 for this
BOOK tCharles was 10 and Alfred Is when
IL appeared), but it proved the forerunner
OF the greatest poetic year in England
since Eilzabetnan times. Among book
hunters this volume has priceless value
now, and Is nearly as rare as Poe's Tam
erane," published AZ the same time,
think, by an obscure printer in Boston.
The "Poe ms by Two Brothers" had,
along with its promise, distinct stamp of
youthful authorship. The motto on the
title page, however, is unas.uming enough.
IL was the following line from Martial:
"Haec nos nov mus esse nihii."
OF the poems the book contained (some-
thing over loo III number), the separate
authorship Was lett unmarked. But the
seriousness OF the Undertaking was sig
nalized by the most profuse foot notes TO
the Noteworthy OF Shakespearean
commentator-and by quotations under
title, from Roman to contemporary times
Critical notice 10 any large extent this
literary venture did not receive but the
Literary Chronicle and Weekly Repicte wrote
about 1t As follows:
This little go ume exhibits n pleasing
unison Of kindred tastes and contains sew
erai lyric pieces of considerable merit"
Tenaysonian is the adjective with
which TO describe the style Of both these
brothers-and Frcderick's method of verse
making also. In spite Of sharp guessing
you cannot be sure always which pieces
are AIirej's and which are Charles in the
book. One on Anthony TO Cleopatra''-
inasmuch as IL was q topic ne afterwards
returned to-is almost surely Alfreds
Below are given a few stanxas from this
poem:
O. Cieepatrsi Fare thea well,
We two can meet no more.
This breaking heart alone can tell
TIE love 10 thee bore
But Wear thou not tie conquerors chain
Upon thy race ana thee.
Aud the We nc'er can meet again,
Yet still lie true 10 me-
For Tor thee have Lost throne.
To wear the crown OF l0vo alone
Fair daughter OF regal Incl
10 thraldoin bow not tame;
Ny every wish on earth was thine,
My ever hope the same,
But have moved within thy sphere,
Aud lived within thy light;
Aud, OIL thou wert t. me- a lear
/ bresthed but IA thy sight,
subject world csg Tor thee,
For thou vert al the world 20 mel
Then when che shrlesiug- Of the dying
We're heard along the wave,
soul OF Els suHAt sAw thee dying,
followed lGe@ 70 save.
The thunder pi the brarsa rrocs
Ger Actium's ocean suuE.
Fsgae'k gar and fades rom ny hrows
Her wreath Way q .I.s.
] sought, saw. / Heard out tGes
For " lat - love Was y;cto:y9
This is all eminently Tennyson-'ke. bat
the third couplet Of the final stauza IS At
Tennysoa's nlgA-water mark Of the DAYS
tAag followed.
Frederick Tcnuys1n. like Alfred and
Charles Was q student II Trinity college.
Cambridge. going there before taem. tie
received lg.Ee there IN is for a Greek
poem Oh 'Esypt' II vas jas; year
later that Alfred got the prjEe there Tor
lass poem entitled ''Tlmbuctoo" Freder-
ick's nfst collection 81 verse came uut IN
1-14, az vas called Days aua Hours"
4 copy al th.s sook no. would be marked
yery FaFe. IL Is GuoWp that Alfrei's com-
r.cglt9F Ter the Trinity college prize was
its friend EFtaur Henry Ha4Su uut not
49, Ne.l known tuat IL vas proposed when
they we're about 70 PUBLISH bouks that
fAey initiate sac uuloI C4leFsdge and
Wordsworth eKempiiaosi "A tuerr Lyrical
Ea. ADDS" 1t was bel.@m's father Who
i:tso up tais Management 4hree lines
a. icAAyAoa's "4imuUciVo" be embodied