workmanship and less affectation of simplicity in these poems than
in some of his earlier ones, and while these will hardly be popular in the sense of "The Psalm of Life" and "Excelsior !" they will command a more critical approbation. The picture of the dragon-fly in the first poem is touched off very happily in two fine lines :— " And down the listed sunbeam rides resplendent With steel blue mail and shield."
But the series of sonnets on Dante's Divina Commedia and the weird rhythmical cadences of "The Bells of Lynn" are the most perfect portions of this little volume. We cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of one quotation—the one we have just characterized :—
"0 Curfew of the setting sun ! 0 Bells of Lynn !
0 requiem of the dying day ! 0 Bells of Lynn !
"From the dark belfries of you cloud-cathedral wafted, Your sounds aerial seem to float, 0 Bells of Lynn !
"Borne on the evening wind across the crimson twilight, O'er land and sea they rise and fall, 0 Bells of Lynn !
"The fisherman in his boat, far out beyond the headland, Listens, and leisurely rows ashore, 0 Bells of Lynn!
"Over the shining sands the wandering cattle homeward Follow each other at your call, 0 Bells of Lynn !
"The distant lighthouse hears, and with his flaming signal Answers you, passing the watchword on, 0 Bells of Lynn ! "And down the darkening coast run the tumultuous surges, And clap their bands, and shout to you, 0 Bells of Lynn! "Till from the shuddering sea, with your wild incantations, Ye summon up the spectral moon, 0 Bells of Lynn !
"And startled at the sight, like the weird woman of Endor, Ye cry aloud, and then are still, 0 Bells of Lynn !"
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