The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-06-25

kinds-gersonal. political. social. etc.
There is a difference Of optnleh
among critics as to the Etanz1 employ
ed in the great poem The cid IDEA
Is that II was not a crea-
ton Of the poets but was copied
from the Italian ottawa riula. WITH
a ninth ine-an Aleaandrtne-
TO close the cadoner." That Is the
opinion among many critics. pernsp
of most capable critics IL has resolved
the name in poetry OF the SpeEserAn
S,anza- Prof. It. Il. Shaw. Professor 81
English Literature in the nperlal
Alexander Lyceum OF st Petersburg
more than sixty years ago in his hno
discussion OF Spenser. says Of the versi-
fcation OF the poem, that I'll Is really
nothing more than tint Italian ottawa
rima. or eighulined stanza- TO which
Spenser, in order To give to the English
the linked sweetness long draWn out
Of the ~'faveila Toscana, most wisely
added a ninth line. whose billowy how
admirably winds UP the swelling and
varying music OF each stanza. Prof.
Shaw with his usual acute discern
ment and feIicitous wording. a gift OF
criticism. says of Sponsors success.
that he has welded this complicated
instrument with such consummate
mastery and grace. that the rich
abundant melody OF his v~ersidcatlon
almost Expresses the ear with its over
whelmipg sweetness. Like the soft I'M
dulation OF a Tropic sea. IL bears us
on dreamily with easy swell and falls.
by wizard islands Of sunshine and Of
rest. by bright phantom-peopled
realms and old enchanted cities"
OF all poets in English. Spenser IS
the most gorgeous and pictorial
surely. and the richest colors OF fancy
and imagination are always submis-
sive to his will. There may be too
much of sweetness and beauty and
splendor. and yet the charm continues
and is imperishable. Writing at the
transition time he did, when the old
ways and words were gradually yield
ing to the new, II is really very Won
derful that he should nave so in
vented, so mastered. the new.
and left to the world Of letters
such a are legacy OF new thoughts
and grand inspirations all clothed in
the rich and flowing garniture of
words that were not born TO die" II
is certainly true. as Prof. S~aintsbury.
affrEns, that no English poet ever sur
passed Spenser in "the pictorial and
the musical elements OF poetry" He
think IT doubtful If any English poet
In these qualities ever equalled him.
He thinks the "Faerie Queene" so rich
and splendid that 1t sis the only long
poem that a lover of poetry conscien-
ciously wishes longer" This is prob
ably true, for any appreciative reader
of the Six must lament the rapid
ending OF the poets life when in his
very prime, so that his projected work
was never completed. and the planned
six other Books were never written
and he should lose vastly in that fail
ure to write all that was planned. I
think him mistaken In considering the
last three Books equal to the first
three. To me there was unmistakable
dechne. and yet no other poet could
have written one of them.
The literary world is well nigh unit
ed as to the greatness of Spenser. and
the place he fills in poetic literature.
Some. few writer's may hold him to be
absolutely first after Shakespeare. but
j can not reproduce what was aid
have no ~Cyclopedia OF any kim or
country to aid me in this paper. I
a not lay nay hand upon the passage
In Walter Savage Landor's works. in
hich he gives his estimate OF Spen-
ser. Landor is SO great a writer as to
etyle, is so rich in thought, is both
poet and prose writer Of such rare
merit, that his view Of any writer is
worthy of consideration. Years ago
] read in one Of his essays tina he be-
leved Spenser to be the greatest of
all English poets. ] do not recall
that he excepted any. but the greatest
of all the poets Of the world, Shakes
peare, Is usually excepted
Landor thought that so well establish
ed, that it was needless to name him.
Lord Macaulay says that Spenser was
assuredly one of the greatest poets
that ever lived" Macaulay, like Lam
dor. was both poet and great prose
writer. Macaulay had acute critical
perception. He said of Spenser. and
he was correct / believe, that "one un-
~pardonable fault in him is "the fault
of t~ediousness that perades the whole
of the Faer:e Queene." Remember
the immense length Of the poem