The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-29
H..

Just as there are persons who think English
literature a purely Anglo-Saxon product. so
others would derive all its excellcnces from
the Celt. The latter view Is pronounced as far
apart from the truth as the former. In our
authors judgment, the Celt by himself Is IA
incapable as would have been the Anglo
Saxon Of producing the magnificent and varied
literature which is known to the world as Eng
fish. 1t is acknowledged. nevertheless. that
the former brought to the evolution of that
great creation a number of elements without
which 1t would never have become what it is.
For long centuries the spirit OF the Celt was in
timately mingled with the spirit OF the Anglo
Saxon. from homo to home. from town to town,
from county to county. over the north
west and southwest OF England and over
the whole of the lowlands Of Scot
land: nay. even. through its antecedent
admixture with the Danes. 1t eventually in
huenced the eastern and midland counties of
England. 1t brought with it into the English
people and wove into their nature and litera-
ture a sad ideality; a penetrative and mystic
imagination. especially pleased with and natu-
rally abiding in worlds beyond the senses. II
brought coplous inventlveness: great love OF
melody and Of its most subtle changes, both in
music and poetry; a fiery impulsiveness. at
tended by a swift reaction into depression: a
root OF romantic melancholy; a passionate love
OF women: a dreamy union with the life OF
nature: a great power OF animating inanimate
things and Of quick shaping into form what WINS
felt and thought; a Satire vein which tended
to be savage In expression and reckless OF
fact; a capacity for self-mockery; a care
lessness OF the conventional: n reck-
lessness OF the present. and. especially.
OF the future; a fierce individuality which. in
politics, disliked law. and. in literature, eyinred
an excessive elf-consciOusness: a penaraI In
attentivcness to criticism and a feeling as OF
one belonging to another world and half lost
in this: II belief that there was nothing on thjs
earth worth much trouble or much intensity
Certain OF these lements kept the Celt from
the close study OF great models. the hard and
persistent work. the boundless humility before
ideal beauty, the rigorous rejection of the su-
perfluous. the resolution to possess great mat
ter OF thought an well as depth Of emotion.
which are both needful for the attainment OF
perfection In artistic work. 1t was not till his
powers were mixed with those OF the English
that such perfection could be attained. BY
himself the Celt would have been as incapable
as would have been the Anglo Saxon Of pro-
ducing the whole of English literature.
1t is conceded by Mr.. Brooke. howeyer. that
the powers which the Celtic nature caused 10
mingle with the Anglo-Saxon nature were OF
the highest value for every class Of metrical
composition-for the melody Of poetry. for its
lyric changes and for its subtle rhythms. We
are reminded that a host OF our rhythms ara
derived from Irish meters. sometimes directly.
sometimes transmitted through France. some
through Italy. sometimes through Latin
hymns. To these powers English poetry owes
much OF its fanciful charm, it's love OF legend
and fairy lore. Its quaint or magical surprises. |
It's seli-conscIous melancholy. Its Satire laugh |