New-York tribune., 1898-12-25
POETRY.
A NEW BOOK BY THE LAUREATE AND
RELIC OBJ SHELLEY.

LAMIAS UNDERGRADUATES ny ni,,r" ,i
Austin, Poet Laureate. With Ten Illustrations
octave pp TX. 1si. Tho Macmillan Company
percy Bysshe Shelley. and Elizabeth Shsl'ey}
Edited by Richard Garnett. c. T.. LIZ ~
Octave, PIP. xxvii. 66. John Lane.
IN PALESTINE AND OTHER POEMS. BY Rich
ard Watson Glider. Duodecimo pp. Do Ihe
Century Company
LABOR AMP TIE ANGEL By Duncan Cana Cana
Il Day.
POEMS. BY Philip Henry Savage. lSmo, PIP ~
Boston: Copeland Day.
The Poet Laureate has only himself to blame
II the world finds him most acceptable when he
mngles prose with his verse. He encourages
this preference by writing volumes such as
"Lamas Winter Quarters" and making them
entirely delightful. THE Garden That Love
began this series OF miscelanes. "Veronicas
Garden" followed, on an equally inspiriting
level, and now, in his latest book, Mr.. Austin
seems, il anything, more charming than before.
Possibly his success On this occasion IS due 10
some extent to the environment he has provided
for his three four Interesting takers. 1t ls
all Italian, with a sense Of silvery olive trees
and stately expresses and picturesque pines
permeatng everything and leading the reader
subtly to see in phantom picture, the blue
southern sky and the rare, architectural beauty
Of the Tuscan hsides In England everything
seems to crouch Mr.. Austin causes Lamia to
say. Here everything seems to SOAR That
Is the natural view for poet to take. and yet
every fact Of landscape to which this book al
ludes squares with the conceptions OF the poetic
imagination. This is one way OF saying that
"Lamia's Winter Quarters" Is book containing
much truth as well fancy; 1t sketches the
country and gives also the impressions OF
man to whom the literature and history OF the
peninsula are as real the romantic villa ln
which, apparently he has written these pages
And at intervals he gives us verses like the fol-
lowing in which the Mountains reply to the Sea-
claiming to have a more disdainful attitude
toward the winds than the watery elements can
boast:
But their vain insanity survey,
And on my silent brow | let them beat.
What Is there II is worth my while to say
To storm or sleet?
hear the thunder rumbling through the raln
! feel the lightning flicker round my head
The bzzards buffet me- but remain
Dumb the dead
Urged by the goad Of stern taskmaster Time,
The Seasons come and so, the years roll round
watch them from my solitude sublime
Uttering no sound.
For hate and love have nor love nor hate;
To be alone is not to be forlorn
The only armour against ptilesS Fate
Is plying scorn.
When the white wolves of Winter 70 their lair
Throng, and yet deep and deeper sleeps the
loose the avalanche, to shake and scare
The vale below
And. when its sprouting hopes and brmmns
Are bound and buried In death-white shroud
Then at the thought that entombed can be.
l laugh aloud.
To one other poem. a fragment OF which we
have recently quoted, We would also draw par
tcular attention This is "A Birthday Present..
from which We take the following stanzas:
Say what. to please you you would have
be-"
fan would have you very fair to see,
And sweet to hear.
You should have Aphrodite's form and face
With Dans tread;
And something Of Minerva's lofty grace
Should crown your head.
Summer should wander In your voice, and
Spring
And % pure e. thoughts ripen In your heart that
bring
Calm Autumn days.
You should be close to us as earth and sea,
And yet as far
As Heaven itself In sooth I'd nave you pe
Just what you are.
The new contribution to the store OF Shelley
ana made I'm the shape Of a reprint OF "Orgina
Poetry by Victor and Cazlre," Is also a volume
in which there is much prose as poetry to be
considered. The poetry, written by Shelley and
his sister Elizabeth includes the earliest at
tempts Of the former, and is. regarded as poetry,
OF no value whatever The thought is common