points the subtle and invisible relationships which exist between the sensitive mind of the man of genius and the deeper movements and experiences of the life of his time—relationships which make such a man both leader and interpreter of his age11." 66 XII His critical work concerns itself with poetry, and is comprised in three volumes, Victorian Poets ", based on articles contributed to Scribner's Monthly in 1875; "Poets of America ", appearing ten years later; and "The Nature and Elements of Poetry", containing the lectures delivered in 1891 at Johns Hopkins University as the initial course of the Turnbull memorial lectureship of poetry. The three volumes form a connected whole, and are beyond question the most valuable judgment of poetry and of modern poets to be found in English. "Victorian Poets" has the distinction of containing the first attempt to determine the effect upon poetry of modern science. -an effect upon which he dwells much in the last of these volumes. He says: "We Olympian food and nectar, earth with heaven"." "Splendors of morning the billow-crests brighten, Lighting and luring them on to the land, Far-away waves where the wan vessels whiten, Blue rollers breaking in surf where we stand. Curved like the necks of a legion of horses, Each with his froth-gilded mane flowing free, Hither they speed in perpetual courses, Bearing thy riches, O beautiful sea1. "The Prince's eyes and hers Met like the clouds that lighten. In a breath Swift memory flamed between them, as, when stirs No wind, and the dark sky is still as death, One lance of living fire is hurled across; Then comes the whirlwind, and the forests toss1! " "Autumn Song" 309 X Here is a poem for his birth-month: AUTUMN SONG "No clouds are in the morning sky, 46 Who says that life and love can die In all this northern gleam? At every turn the maples burn, The partridge whirs, and the frosted burs In the clear October morning. Along our path the woods are bold, The yellow chestnut showers its gold, The sumachs spread their fire; The breezes feel as crisp as steel, The buckwheat tops are red: Then down the lane, love, scurry again, And over the stubble tread! Ho! hilly hi! heigh O! Hilly ho! In the clear October morning3." XI While Mr. Stedman ranks well among American poets, among American critics he stands first. The writer's appreciation of him is shown by the frequent citations made throughout these articles. (First Series, pp. 20, 42, 138, 139, 171, 239, 301, 317, 339, 350, 352, 354; Second Series, pp. 45, 51, 59, 88, 95, 190, 222, 416; Third Series, pp. 200, 223), and reference to these quotations will show how fair and sound and trustworthy his conclusions are. His opinions are sincere, positive, virile, sympathetic yet discriminating and candid, with what Dr. Holmes calls "the stroke of characterisation14." "His note is essentially the note of interpretation; he accepts Goethe's maxim that the prime quality of the critic is that gift of sympathy which enables him to put himself in the place of the writer whose work he studies, and to examine that work in the light of the purpose which he aims to accomplish. * * *Nothing is more admirable in his work than the largeness of view which it discloses. He discerns at all points the subtle and invisible relationships. which exist between the sensitive mind of the man of genius and the deeper movements and experiences of the life of his time-relationships which make such a man both leader and interpreter of his age14. XII His critical work concerns itself with poetry, and is comprised in three volumes, "Victorian Poets ", based on articles contributed to Scribner's Monthly in 1875; "Poets of America ", appearing ten years later; and "The Nature and Elements of Poetry", containing the lectures delivered in 1891 at Johns Hopkins University as the initial course of the Turnbull memorial lectureship of poetry. The three volumes form a connected whole, and are beyond question the most valuable judgment of poetry and of modern poets to be found in English. "Victorian Poets" has the distinction of containing the first attempt to determine the effect upon poetry of modern science. -an effect upon which he dwells much in the last of these volumes. He says: "We |