The Idolatress, and other Poems. By James Wills, D.D. (Hotten.) —
These poems belong to what may he called the pre-Tennysonian period. The writer, though not by any means an imitator, recalls the style of Walter Savage Lander and of Croly. The scene and time of the principal poem are of the nourishing period of the Hebrew monarchy. Jerada, the Idolatress, is a Phconician wife of Solomon, passionately devoted to the worship of her country's gods, and defiant of Jehovah. The poem, which is thrown into a dramatic form, tolls the story of how her faith in Baal and Ashtaroth is broken down till she turns at the last to the truth. The colouring and tone of thought is, we should say, classical rather than Hebrew. About the dialogues of the conspirators there is, on the other hand, a very decidedly modern air, yet the whole impresses us favourably ; there is thought, power of expression, and vigorous versification. Equally powerful is the "Court of Darkness," a poem published forty years ago
in Blackwood's Magazine. We observe that Dr. Wills announces no less than four poems as " preparing for publication." It is quite possible that he may yet make for himself a considerable reputation.
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