The Earl's Choice, and Other Poems. By Sir William a
Beckett, late Chief Justice of Victoria. (Smith, Elder, and Co.)— The author of this volume is far from having formed an extravagant estimate of the reception that his verses are likely to meet with. "To the general reader," he tells us, "unaccredited verse of any kind appeals with small chance of welcome," and he goes on expressly to disclaim any expecta- tion that his productions will furnish an exception to the general rule. Sir William a Beckett deserves all credit for having adopted this wholesome conviction betimes, especially as there is a vast mob of complacent verse-writers at the present day to whom, though they have far more cause to lay it to heart, it seems never to have occurred for a moment. The principal characteristic of Sir William's poetical style is its entire freedom from spasmodic vigour or luxuriant ornamentation. So anxious is he to keep down the general tone of his verses, that in telling the tale which gives its name to his volume he appears to have occasionally forgotten that it was poetry that he had undertaken to write. The best things in the book are numerous short pieces suggested by the death of his wife, which show great tenderness of feeling, and no inconsiderable power of appropriate expression. Sir William appears to be a remarkably stern moralist ; and few readers of the "Idylls of the King" will, we fancy, be inclined to endorse his regret that "one to whom the admiring age accords the poet's bay" should have
"Befouled the purer current of his verse With tuneful warblings of a wanton's wiles, And wife's deceit."
Previous page
