Poems of John Seats. Edited by G. Thorn Drury. With
an introduction by Robert Bridges. 2 vole. "The Muses' Library." (Lawrence and Bullen.)—Of this beautiful edition of Keats, the poet of beauty, no words can be uttered that are not commend- able. It is a pity, indeed, that much verse which the author would have rejected should be included among his posthumous poems, but it is the common lot of poets nowadays to have the refuse of their desk preserved, and an edition that fails to per- form such scavenger-like labour is not supposed to be complete. Mr. Bridges thinks that the preservation of this " poor stuff " would not have troubled Keats. " On one point only was he sensi- tive, and that was his belief that he sometimes did well, and would do better. The failures he left as they were, having too much pride to be ashamed of them." This may be true, but when a poet's weakest verse comprises a large portion of his published work some injury to his reputation is inevitable. Mr. Bridges makes the strange confession that he has not read Leigh Hunt's poems, the conceits and prettinesses of which infected Keats's earliest efforts. As Coleridge received his first poetical impressions from Bowles, Keats derived his from Hunt, and between these two great poets another likeness may be noticed,— each of them having been blessed with one year of amazing fertility and of supreme success. Mr. Bridges gives an elaborate analysis of Keats's poetry, especially of " Endymion," and readers who desire a thoughtful explanation of a poet's meaning and pur- pose will be grateful for the suggestions offered. Whether the meanings given, some of which are scarcely more than conjectures, will deepen their admiration of the poetry is perhaps doubtful. It is scarcely necessary to add that the great odes receive fitting praise from the critic; but it is difficult to accept the order of merit which he has assigned to them. And what does Mr. Bridges mean by contrasting odes with lyrics ? We have always thought the ode one of the finest forms in which lyrical feeling can be expressed.
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