New-York tribune., 1896-10-25
MR.. ALDRICH.S NEW POEM.
A STORY FROM THE APOCiIRYPHA IN
BLANK VERSE.
JUDITH AND HOIOFERNES. \ Poem. by
Thomas BAILEY Aldrch. Octave. pp ~ ~
Boston and NewYork; iioughton, Miffiin a

Boston and New-York. Iioughton, Mif''in a
To begin with Mr.. Aldrich put his finger upon
one Of the finest motives In literature when he
chose the heroic judith OF the Apochrypha for his
theme In his preface he names her with char
lotie Corday: and thourh the Muse OF History
might resent the juxtaposl'ion OF the two women
il l. clear TO any merely sympathetic ~. id thht
courage for courage. the modern hcroin"'an the
legendary rival one another across the ages Both.
moreover appeal to the Imagination with the same
nobility. In both womaniy tenderness survives
over and above the stern beauty Of that avengng
fate which they personhed Modern criticism
tinidly lifts it's head from time 10 time and says
that Charlotte Corday was an ASSASSIN. that Marht
was victim a jus. sacrifice. only the other
day "A very reasonable and persuasive attempt was
made whitcn his memory. No doubt II ther"
were any documents accessible We would have
some one holding brief for Holoforn"s ana pour
ing scorn upon his exccutloncr. But the force OF a
tremendous deed carries far. especially when the
instinct of man leads him to admire II. and 1t is
unlikely that anything will ever he said which
could rob judith OF the smallest portion OF h"r
fame She continues and will continue TO thrill
the reader Of her story. Why? Because she was
extremely beautiful and beauty Is In itself an APP
peal TO what Is revcrent and generous In mnn
Further the deed she did has not only the grand
eur OF a dim cpical time about II. but touches
the most modern temperament with "A sense or Its
a,idacity and might. Judith struck blow that
was needed In a very human crisis. We may put
the whole drama far back into sphere wherein
Israel struggled like phantom race In worl
couded BY divine punshmen,s Illuminated 10y
divine inspirations: but at the core OF this legend
there IL a poignancy OF human anguish ana human
victory which makes 1t every inch tangible as
Charlotte Corday's act or the Battle OF Waterloo
We feel that the men, the women. the children OF
Israel people like ourselves. needed the death OF
Hoofernea and the consequent destruction OF the
Assyran army. We feel all the difficulties that lay
before Judith in the achievement OF that death, and
We realize the subtest emotion of her contempor-
aries that was aroused by her triumph.
These things are realized. say considering
lust the outlines Of the story which get from
the Apochrypha. Without Mr.. Adrch's aid
can grasp the character Of Judith The question H.
then has nc intensified our sympathy. filled out
our portrait Of her and our picture OF the
In which She moved? Regretfully. these questions
must he answered ir the negative. judith and
Uolofernes' is a mature piece Of work, and the
very authority and finish Of Mr. Aldrlchs art give
It n dignity which commands respect. But respect
is not the tribute which the reader stands ready
TO pay to a metrcal version OF passionately ro-
mantle tale The lyrical narration Of Judith's
plot ough, to make the pulse beat faster. ought
to stir the emotions like trumpet call. and true
blank has always lyrical nre I'm II. II moves
swiftly meodiously mastcrfully. Mr. Adrich's
verse is suavely phrased. yet 1t has no move
ment no more passion than II he were celebrat-
Once and only once. the sluggish gait IL quickened
1t IL I'm within half dozen pages Of the conclusion
Judith has smitten Hoofernes In his tent and her
flight with Marah. the hand-maden Immediately
after spurs Mr. Aldrch very nearly to nervous
impulsive utterance:
A loud gong strdck twelve
And the two women past the silent guard
With measured footsteps past as II to prayer
But the camps lone edge fear gave them wing
And glancing not behind. they fled like wraiths
Through the hushed night into the solemn woods.
frAv, rla1r and 1al.I
Rose UP. and seemed to follow them: and once
Some creature startled In the underbrush
Made cry, and froZe the blood about their hearts,
Across the plain. with MISUNDERSTANDING hair
And dcath-white face; they fled. until at last
The gray walls loomed through vapor This they
comb
Wild with the pregnant horrors Of the night
And nung themselves against the city gates
so this goes Is spirited and besides bc,pg
pictorial. as Mr. Aldrlch's best verse always s r.
undoubtedly wakes n serse Of Judith's terrified sem
sations. imperous now that the head of the no.
siegng commander IL In Marah's rankin and I'm.
tension OF her sojourn In the Assyriar camp is re-
laxed. At the same time IL IL hardly pleasant 10
have admit that passage like this represents
the poets hgn-watcr mark In the present instance
He did better In 'Wyndham Towers" and that pro
duction Is more clever than poetcaL The melan-
choly truth to be that Mr.. Aidrich was never
Intended to he dramatic poet. His enthusiasm
will sometimes carry him through a brief episode
Of dramatic Significance: but he needs the lyrical
form, as we'll an the lyrical impulse. 10 take him
even a short distance across a field marked by
stirring deeds and situations. TO any one IN
familiar with his work as writer Of songs this