New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-25
"ROSAMUND.'
THE LATEST WORK OF ALGERNoN
CHARLES SwINBURNE.

TTasedv nv Algernon Charles swinburne. oc-
tavo PIP. 81. Dodd. Mead & Co
The question as TO whether drama by lyric
poet is adapted for presentation on the stage
or not is settled chiefly by the manner IN Wh'ch
the work is handled. In Mr.. Swinburnes NUS
amund" however, the subject has sigfihcahoe
beyond that of the writer's metnoo. IL is
bare. bleak tragedy, the lurid gloom OF wnich
is relieved only by flames OF passion 100 nerve
ard sinister to be borne anywhere save III '"e
napes Of a book IT, following the faInlhar law
q he legitimate to purge the emotions by the
excitation Of pity and terror 1t is also essential
that the tragic poetry through which TINS is
ACCOMPLISHED should preserve even in It's most
tremendous moments the human quality the
,oucb that links exceptional crises to universal
exnerience and sympathy. This 'Rosamuhu
Fails N do II see but as by lightning. queen
savs Hildesard. terrified and half blinded by 'he
deadly proposals of her revengeful mistress anu
q play Illuminated thus from beginning 10 emu
&c this one is is inconceivable in the theatre
macbeth" and Antony and Cleopatra nave
grandeur "Rosamund" is merely horrloie'
Albovine having killed the father OF MS
queen forces her TO drink the wine ne mas
noured in the skull Of the murdered man. IN
the first act he thus humlates her'
Bring me the cup. Queen, thou shalt pledge
,eaGtb Si 70 d all this kingdom and its veal
Even from the bowl that here to hold IN manu-
Assures me lord Of Lombardy ana ~ nun Gnd
By right and might Of battle ana OIL sSsTi thou
The skull that was thy father 81 50 smart ~
Drink TO me with thy father
c;rislv as is this situation, the events flowing
from, If are even more repulsive. Rosamuhu
srjns TO her service, by means OF devllsh IN
canu,tv Hildegard her innocent handmaiden'
and Alunachildes. the girls lover and the rrlehu
of the king The drama moves toward the ihui
dor of the latter with relentless sngleness Oh
aim and Mr. Swinburne wrings from MS reaner
the admission that at least the progress OF 'he
tragedy is we'll managed, at least the dramaus'
constructive power is demonstrated But WHAT
of the poetry for which, after all. we are ooui'u
TO look first in any production by TINS autioi
He exhibits in some Of the briefer speeches d
tense emotion reminiscent of some or MS pest
work Almachildes, rebounding in agonizeo Ter
ror from the plan of murder which Kosamuho
sets before him, bursts forth in words eloquent
though few
Dead Such thing as thou could never else
Live.
Rut the repulsive nature of his theme wouio
seem to have deprived the poet OF all tha'
music all that color and charm IN whlch MS
readers have recognized the sources OF MS IN
dividuality and strength When AlooVlhe' OPP
pressed by the hot sun. and perhaps by some
mysterious presage of his coming fate' eNciaiiiiS
would this fierce italian June were dead.
So hard It weighs upon me-
and impatient OF Rosamund's dubious WORDS
of reinsurance goes on to declare
And well were that, IL summer died with june
.hars &c heard family. the sound of that rhyth-
mic speech which we get from Mr.. Swinburne
at his best Then the promise fades. and the
drama is left with no lingering notes OF music
without one flash Of beauty. We may cite ono
other illustration the address of Albovine 10 his
queen:
Thv voice was honey-hearted music, sweet
As wine and glad as clarions: not In battle
Might man have more Of joy than TO bear IL
And feel delight dance in my heart and laugh
ZOO loud for hearing its own. Thou rose
Wnv aid God give thee more than all thy kin
Whose pride is perfume only and color, TINS
Music? No rose but mine sings and the piras
Hush all their hearts TO hearken. Dost thou
hear not
How heavy sounds her note now?
In these lines. typical in the fullest measure
the accomplished writer is plainly visible. But
there is no magic, there is no fire. Rosa
mund" seems a tragedy manufactured with
malice aforethought by poet who could not be
commonplace II he tried. but who must never
theless pay the penalty paid by all men writing
without inspiration He interests us, languidly,
and leaves us cold.