The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-12
ONE OF BYRoN,s ApoLoGIsTs.

Preceding The Human Tragedy"
Mr.. Austin had published his first vol
ume ''The Season; A Satire, which is
still to be found, although his answer
10 it's critics, MY Satire and Its Cen
sors," was long ago suppressed, as a
piece of bOyishness not worthy Il
poets dignity. 1t was Alfred Austin,
by the way, who wrote the celebrated
"Vindication of Lord Byron" in reply
to Mrs. Stoves attack upon him on
her visit to England, soon after the
civil war. Another satire, The Golden
Age" appeared in 1871, but it is not
to be counted with the best even of
his early work. ''Madonna's Child"
on the contrary, is good work, and has
lately been republished, after being
long out of print ''Soliloquies in
Song" is "A good typical volume of
Austin's best lyrical mood, and is a
good book for beginner with his
work to begin on. For, of course, it
will be the business of everybody who
wishes to know about literature to
know Alfred Austin now, if they never
did before. 1t is not easy to read
prince Lucifer," the somewhat tire
some drama, with at least two good
songs interpolated, which was finished
during the year of the Queens jubilee
and dedicated to her The poet said
he had no lyric or ode to offer on
that memorable midsummer day."
the fiftieth year of the Queens reign,
so, later, he offered her, by permission
tn drama he was at work on at the
time, expressing to her majesty the
hope that IF it escape oblivion, it may
do so by being associated with your
touching virtues. and may be remem-
bered along with worthier fruits Of
your respondent reign" "Fortunatus
the Pessimist" is much more reada-
bic drama, and with a meaning simply
and POLITICALLY unfolded. 1t is ''af-
fectionately Inscribed to George
Meredith" 1.-THE Tower Of Babel" and
''Savonarola" are other dramas. None
of Austin's three efforts in fiction had
large hearing or were worth one.
His Lyrical Poems" and Maria
tive Poems" are better, and have gone
into more editions, too. But, in this
country at least, his recent prose has
been more popular-and with very
evident reason-than his poetry. In
THE Garden That / Love" there are
some lovely lyrics sifted through the
prose, written by Veronica's Poet for
Veronica. and the same scheme" pre-
walls in the new book, ''Veronica's Gar
den"
Upon the death Of Lord Tennyson.
in 1892, the man who was destined to
succeed the illustrious poet in the
laureateship wrote a eulogy entitled
-'The Passing of.Merlin, !" which carries
d singular and interesting significance
in view of the distinguished honor
that her majesty has at last conferred
upon Austin His words But shortly
once again the isle will ring with
iaureate's voice, seem to come either
as the fulfllment of n prediction or as
the soyereign's reward for the patriot
ic confidence of the living poet above
the bier of the dead.
AN INTERESTING COINCIDENCE. 1
The following verses will serve both
to suggest the coincidence referred to
and the chaste. finished style Of the
new poet laureate:
Merlin has gone. Merlin the Wizard.
who found
In the past's glimmering tide and
haAled him king
Arthur, Great Tther's son, and so
did sing
The mystic gleries of the table round
That ever its name viii live so long
as song shall sound.
Merlin has gone, Merlin who followed
the CLEAN
And made us follow it, the flying tale
OF the last tournament, the Holy
Grail,
And Arthur's passing till the enehant-
ress's dream
ry theme.
So England mourns for Merlin, though
its tears
Flow not from bitter source that
wells in vain.
Pat kindred rather to the ripping
rain,
That brings the daffodil sheaths and
Jonquil spears,
When winter weeps and April reap
pears.
For neer hath England lacked a voice
to sing
Her fairness and her fame, nor will
she now;
Silence awhile may brood upon the
Dough,
But shortly once again the isle will
ring
With Weakening winds of March and
rhapsodies of spring.
The first English poet laureate-so
called from the laurel with which the
ancient Latin poets were crowned in
the Roman capitol-is believed to have
been John Kay or Gains, who was so
appointed by Edward ". The Eng
lish universities are thought to have
conferred the title in one rare instance
thereafter. but the first in the line of
a regular succession of laureates was
Ben Jonson, who was SO created in
1890 From that time to this
the poet laureates Of England have
only numbered thirteen.
The yearly fee of the poet laureate
was formerly c 100 and tierce of ca
nary wine, but since 1913 the wine has
been committed for money.
Here are examples Of Austin's poe
try:
YET LOVE CAN LAST.
Yet love can last, yet love can last,
The future be as was the past,
And faith and fondness never know
The chill OF dwindling afterglow,