17 NOVEMBER 1900, Page 30

HEROD.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—In the interesting article on Mr. Stephen Phillips's splen did drama of Herod in the Spectator of November 3rd your writer says: "It is strange indeed that from the day of Voltaire till our own so rich a theme should have lain untouched by a master-hand ; " but I think your readers will be glad to be reminded of Lord By-ron's poem " Mariamne," for although it is not the fashion to admire Byron now, this really is a powerfully pathetic poem, as is beautifully and touchingly brought out by Dean Stanley in his "Jewish Churc h," Part III., p. 432.-