IX. POETRY THAT POETS LOVE. WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR-LEIGH HUNT-PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY-JOHN KEATS. To no one can the words that I have placed at the head of this paper apply more perfectly than to Mr. Landor. No poetry was ever dearer to poets than his. Nearly fifty years ago, we find Southey writing of and to the author of "Gebir," with a respectful admiration seldom felt by one young man for another; and, from that hour to the present, all whom he would himself most wish to please have showered upon him praises that cannot die. The difficulty in selecting from his works is the abundance; but I prefer the Hellenics, that charming volume, because few, very few, have given such present life to classical subjects. I begin with the Preface, so full of grace and modesty. "It is hardly to be expected that ladies and gentlemen will leave, on a sudden, their daily promenade, skirted by Turks, and shepherds, and knights, and plumes, and palfreys, of the finest Tunbridge manufacture, to look at these rude frescoes, delineated on an old wall, high up and sadly weak in colouring. As in duty bound, we can wait. The reader (if there should be one) will remember that Sculpture and Painting have never ceased to be occupied with the scenes and figures which we venture once more to introduce in poetry, it being our belief that what is becoming in two of the fine arts, is not quite unbecoming in a third, the one which, indeed, gave birth to them." And now comes the very first story; with its conclusion that goes straight to the heart. THRASYMEDES AND EUNÖE. Who will away to Athens with me? Who I promise ye, as many as are here, Ye shall not, while ye tarry with me, taste What white sail The sea smiles bright before us. Art thou the man? 'Twas Hippias. He had found "Brother! O brother Hippias! Oh, if love Her maiden cheek ?" "Ay, before all the gods, Ay, before Pallas, before Artemis, Ay, before Aphrodite, before Herè, I dared; and dare again. Arise, my spouse! From thy fair open brow." The sword was up, And yet he kissed her twice. Some god withheld The arm of Hippias; his proud blood seethed slower And smote his breast less angrily; he laid His hand on the white shoulder and spoke thus: "Ye must return with me. A second time Offended, will our sire Peisistratos Pardon the affront? Thou shouldst have asked thyself That question ere the sail first flapt the mast." 66 Already thou hast taken life from me; Put up thy sword," said the sad youth, his eyes "Well hast thou performed thy duty," Firmly and gravely said Peisistratos. "Nothing, then, rash young man! could turn thy heart From Eunöe my daughter?" Shall ever turn it. And love but once. "Nothing, Sir, I can die but once O Eunöe! farewell!" "Nay, she shall see what thou canst bear for her." But never let me see what he can bear; I know how much that is when borne for me." "Not yet: come on. And lag not thou behind, Before the people, and before the goddess, Thou hadst evinced the madness of thy passion, And now wouldst bear from home and plenteousness To poverty and exile, this, my child." Then shuddered Thrasymedes, and exclaimed, "I see my crime; I saw it not before. The daughter of Peisistratos was born Ah! nor for me!" He would have wept, but one All who beheld thy trespasses, behold The justice of Peisistratos, the love He bears his daughter, and the reverence In which he holds the highest law of God." He spake; and on the morrow they were one. Did not Mr. Landor write this scene of Orestes one fine June morning, seated on a garden-roller in the court before Mr. Kenyon's house in London ? fitting home for such an inspiration! And is not that the way that such scenes are written? not sitting down with malice prepense to compose VOL. II. I |