Introduction to Poetry. By Laurie Magnus, M.A. (John Murray. Is.
6d.)—This volume is not intended, we hasten to say, to teach its readers to write verse; "its object is to stimulate a reasonable pleasure in poetry." And it is well calculated to attain this object. The criticism is sane and sensible, and, when occasion serves, not without a touch of humour. Indeed, the author ventures to laugh at Browning now and then in a way that will much shock the more fervent Browningites. Altogether this is a book which may be studied with much advantage. But why aro we told that "aunt lacrimao reruns et mentem mortalia tangunt" is a "pure gem of natural mysticism" ? It is nothing of the kind. Aeneas sees in the temple at Carthage pictures of the tragic scenes in the war before Troy which had been familiar to himself. Ho says in effect : These are civilised people ; they have tears for the troubles of life ; minds which human sorrows can touch.' There is no mysticism hero, though the language lends itself to a meaning which was not in the poet's mind,—" the sense of tears iu mortal things."
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