6 MARCH 1909, Page 16

A NOBLE METAPHOR.

[TO TI1 IC EDITOR OP TIIR "Sr ROTATOR.")

SIR,—In the Spectator of February 13th your reviewer of " William Morris," by Alfred Noyes, gives Mr. Noyes credit for "a noble metaphor,"—viz., "the poorest of his singing- robes will have some gold feather clinging to it that shows what paradisal floor it lately swept." The metaphor can hardly be said to belong to Mr. Noyes, however; cf. "To a Poet Breaking Silence," by the late Francis Thompson:—

"Whatever sin Bing-robe thou wear Has the Paradisal air ;

And some gold feather it has kept Shows what Floor it lately swept."

1 Leathwaite Road, Clapham Common.