letters on literature(关于文学)-第4章
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politician； they are 〃good； but copious。〃 Even from narrative poetry Mr。
Morris has long abstained。 He； too； illustrates Mr。 Matthew Arnold's
parable of 〃The Progress of Poetry。〃
〃The Mount is mute； the channel dry。〃
Euripides has been called 〃the meteoric poet；〃 and the same title
seems very appropriate to Mr。 Swinburne。 Probably few readers had
heard his nameI only knew it as that of the author of a strange mediaeval
tale in prosewhen he published 〃Atalanta in Calydon〃 in 1865。 I
remember taking up the quarto in white cloth； at the Oxford Union； and
being instantly led captive by the beauty and originality of the verse。
There was this novel 〃meteoric〃 character in the poem： the writer
seemed to rejoice in snow and fire； and stars； and storm； 〃the blue cold
fields and folds of air；〃 in all the primitive forces which were alive before
this earth was； the naked vast powers that circle the planets and farthest
constellations。 This quality； and his varied and sonorous verse； and his
pessimism； put into the mouth of a Greek chorus； were the things that
struck one most in Mr。 Swinburne。 He was； above all； 〃a mighty…
mouthed inventer of harmonies；〃 and one looked eagerly for his next
poems。 They came with disappointment and trouble。
The famous 〃Poems and Ballads〃 have become so well known that
people can hardly understand the noise they made。 I don't wonder at the
scandal； even now。 I don't see the fun of several of the pieces； except the
mischievous fun of shocking your audience。 However； 〃The Leper〃 and
his company are chiefly boyish； in the least favourable sense of the word。
They do not destroy the imperishable merit of the 〃Hymn to Proserpine〃
and the 〃Garden of Proserpine〃 and the 〃Triumph of Time〃 and 〃Itylus。〃
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Many years have passed since 1866； and yet one's old opinion； that
English poetry contains no verbal music more original； sonorous； and
sweet than Mr。 Swinburne wrote in these pieces when still very young；
remains an opinion unshaken。 Twenty years ago； then； he had enabled
the world to take his measure； he had given proofs of a true poet； he was
learned too in literature as few poets have been since Milton； and； like
Milton； skilled to make verse in the languages of the ancient world and in
modern tongues。 His French songs and Greek elegiacs are of great
excellence； probably no scholar who was not also a poet could match his
Greek lines on Landor。
What； then； is lacking to make Mr。 Swinburne a poet of a rank even
higher than that which he occupies？ Who can tell？ There is no science
that can master this chemistry of the brain。 He is too copious。
〃Bothwell〃 is long enough for six plays； and 〃Tristram of Lyonesse〃 is
prolix beyond even mediaeval narrative。 He is too pertinacious； children
are the joy of the world and Victor Hugo is a great poet； but Mr。
Swinburne almost makes us excuse Herod and Napoleon III。 by his
endless odes to Hugo； and rondels to small boys and girls。 Ne quid nimis；
that is the golden rule which he constantly spurns； being too luxuriant； too
emphatic； and as fond of repeating himself as Professor Freeman。 Such
are the defects of so noble a genius； thus perverse Nature has decided that
it shall be； Nature which makes no ruby without a flaw。
The name of Mr。 Robert Bridges is probably strange to many lovers of
poetry who would like nothing better than to make acquaintance with his
verse。 But his verse is not so easily found。 This poet never writes in
magazines； his books have not appealed to the public by any sort of
advertisement； only two or three of them have come forth in the regular
way。 The first was 〃Poems； by Robert Bridges； Batchelor of Arts in the
University of Oxford。 Parva seges satis est。 London： Pickering；
1873。〃
This volume was presently； I fancy； withdrawn； and the author has
distributed some portions of it in succeeding pamphlets； or in books
printed at Mr。 Daniel's private press in Oxford。 In these； as in all Mr。
Bridges's poems； there is a certain austere and indifferent beauty of diction
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and a memory of the old English poets； Milton and the earlier lyrists。 I
remember being greatly pleased with the 〃Elegy on a Lady whom Grief
for the Death of Her Betrothed Killed。〃
〃Let the priests go before； arrayed in white； And let the dark…stoled
minstrels follow slow Next they that bear her； honoured on this night； And
then the maidens in a double row； Each singing soft and low； And each on
high a torch upstaying： Unto her lover lead her forth with light； With
music and with singing； and with praying。〃
This is a stately stanza。
In his first volume Mr。 Bridges offered a few rondeaux and triolets；
turning his back on all these things as soon as they became popular。 In
spite of their popularity I have the audacity to like them still； in their
humble twittering way。 Much more in his true vein were the lines； 〃Clear
and Gentle Stream；〃 and all the other verses in which； like a true Etonian；
he celebrates the beautiful Thames：
〃There is a hill beside the silver Thames； Shady with birch and beech
and odorous pine； And brilliant under foot with thousand gems Steeply the
thickets to his floods decline。 Straight trees in every place Their thick tops
interlace； And pendent branches trail their foliage fine Upon his watery
face。
* * *
A reedy island guards the sacred bower And hides it from the meadow；
where in peace The lazy cows wrench many a scented flower； Robbing the
golden market of the bees。 And laden branches float By banks of myosote；
And scented flag and golden fleur…de…lys Delay the loitering boat。〃
I cannot say how often I have read that poem； and how delightfully it
carries the breath of our River through the London smoke。 Nor less
welcome are the two poems on spring； the 〃Invitation to the Country；〃 and
the 〃Reply。〃 In these； besides their verbal beauty and their charming
pictures； is a manly philosophy of Life； which animates Mr。 Bridges's
more important pieceshis 〃Prometheus the Firebringer；〃 and his 〃Nero；〃
a tragedy remarkable for the representation of Nero himself； the luxurious
human tiger。 From 〃Prometheus〃 I make a short extract； to show the
quality of Mr。 Bridges's blank verse：
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〃Nor is there any spirit on earth astir； Nor 'neath the airy vault； nor
yet beyond In any dweller in far…reaching space Nobler or dearer than the
spirit of man： That spirit which lives in each and will
