太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > lyrical poems >

第4节

lyrical poems-第4节

小说: lyrical poems 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



her from coarseness of phrase or inferior value:  yet these are rarely defective in the lyrical art; which; throughout the writer's work; is so simple and easy as almost to escape notice through its very excellence。  In one word; Herrick; in a rare and special sense; is unique。

To these qualities we may; perhaps; ascribe the singular neglect which; so far as we may infer; he met with in his own age; and certainly in the century following。  For the men of the Restoration period he was too natural; too purely poetical:  he had not the learned polish; the political allusion; the tone of the city; the didactic turn; which were then and onwards demanded from poetry。  In the next age; no tradition consecrated his name; whilst writers of a hundred years before were then too remote for familiarity; and not remote enough for reverence。  Moving on to our own time; when some justice has at length been conceded to him; Herrick has to meet the great rivalry of the poets who; from Burns and Cowper to Tennyson; have widened and deepened the lyrical sphere; making it at once on the one hand more intensely personal; on the other; more free and picturesque in the range of problems dealt with:  whilst at the same time new and richer lyrical forms; harmonies more intricate and seven…fold; have been created by them; as in Hellas during her golden age of song; to embody ideas and emotions unknown or unexpressed under Tudors and Stuarts。  To this latter superiority Herrick would; doubtless; have bowed; as he bowed before Ben Jonson's genius。  'Rural ditties;' and 'oaten flute' cannot bear the competition of the full modern orchestra。  Yet this author need not fear!  That exquisite:  and lofty pleasure which it is the first and the last aim of all true art to give; must; by its own nature; be lasting also。  As the eyesight fluctuates; and gives the advantage to different colours in turn; so to the varying moods of the mind the same beauty does not always seem equally beautiful。  Thus from the 'purple light' of our later poetry there are hours in which we may look to the daffodil and rose…tints of Herrick's old Arcadia; for refreshment and delight。  And the pleasure which he gives is as eminently wholesome as pleasurable。  Like the holy river of Virgil; to the souls who drink of him; Herrick offers 'securos latices。' He is conspicuously free from many of the maladies incident to his art。  Here is no overstrain; no spasmodic cry; so wire…drawn analysis or sensational rhetoric; no music without sense; no mere second…hand literary inspiration; no mannered archaism:above all; no sickly sweetness; no subtle; unhealthy affectation。  Throughout his work; whether when it is strong; or in the less worthy portions; sanity; sincerity; simplicity; lucidity; are everywhere the characteristics of Herrick:  in these; not in his pretty Pagan masquerade; he shows the note;the only genuine note;of Hellenic descent。  Hence; through whatever changes and fashions poetry may pass; her true lovers he is likely to 'please now; and please for long。'  His verse; in the words of a poet greater than himself; is of that quality which 'adds sunlight to daylight'; which is able to 'make the happy happier。'  He will; it may be hoped; carry to the many Englands across the seas; east and west; pictures of English life exquisite in truth and grace:to the more fortunate inhabitants (as they must perforce hold themselves!) of the old country; her image; as she was two centuries since; will live in the 'golden apples' of the West; offered to us by this sweet singer of Devonshire。  We have greater poets; not a few; none more faithful to nature as he saw her; none more perfect in his art;none; more companionable:

F。 T。 P。 Dec。 1876



** C H R Y S O M E L A **

A SELECTION FROM THE LYRICAL POEMS OF ROBERT HERRICK


** PREFATORY **


*1*

THE ARGUMENT OF HIS BOOK

I sing of brooks; of blossoms; birds; and bowers; Of April; May; of June; and July…flowers; I sing of May…poles; hock…carts; wassails; wakes; Of bride…grooms; brides; and of their bridal…cakes。 I write of Youth; of Love;and have access By these; to sing of cleanly wantonness; I sing of dews; of rains; and; piece by piece; Of balm; of oil; of spice; and ambergris。 I sing of times trans…shifting; and I write How roses first came red; and lilies white。 I write of groves; of twilights; and I sing The court of Mab; and of the Fairy King。 I write of Hell; I sing; and ever shall Of Heaven;and hope to have it after all。


*2*

TO HIS MUSE

Whither; mad maiden; wilt thou roam? Far safer 'twere to stay at home; Where thou mayst sit; and piping; please The poor and private cottages。

Since cotes and hamlets best agree With this thy meaner minstrelsy。 There with the reed thou mayst express The shepherd's fleecy happiness; And with thy Eclogues intermix: Some smooth and harmless Bucolics。 There; on a hillock; thou mayst sing Unto a handsome shepherdling; Or to a girl; that keeps the neat; With breath more sweet than violet。 There; there; perhaps such lines as these May take the simple villages; But for the court; the country wit Is despicable unto it。 Stay then at home; and do not go Or fly abroad to seek for woe; Contempts in courts and cities dwell No critic haunts the poor man's cell; Where thou mayst hear thine own lines read By no one tongue there censured。 That man's unwise will search for ill; And may prevent it; sitting still。


*3*

WHEN HE WOULD HAVE HIS VERSES READ

In sober mornings; do not thou rehearse The holy incantation of a verse; But when that men have both well drunk; and fed; Let my enchantments then be sung or read。 When laurel spirts i' th' fire; and when the hearth Smiles to itself; and gilds the roof with mirth; When up the Thyrse is raised; and when the sound Of sacred orgies; flies A round; A round; When the rose reigns; and locks with ointments shine; Let rigid Cato read these lines of mine。


*4*

TO HIS BOOK

Make haste away; and let one be A friendly patron unto thee; Lest; rapt from hence; I see thee lie Torn for the use of pastery; Or see thy injured leaves serve well To make loose gowns for mackarel; Or see the grocers; in a trice; Make hoods of thee to serve out spice。


*5*

TO HIS BOOK

Take mine advice; and go not near Those faces; sour as vinegar; For these; and nobler numbers; can Ne'er please the supercilious man。


*6*

TO HIS BOOK

Be bold; my Book; nor be abash'd; or fear The cutting thumb…nail; or the brow severe; But by the Muses swear; all here is good; If but well read; or ill read; understood。


*7*

TO MISTRESS KATHARINE BRADSHAW; THE LOVELY; THAT CROWNED HIM WITH LAUREL

My Muse in meads has spent her many hours Sitting; and sorting several sorts of flowers; To make for others garlands; and to set On many a head here; many a coronet。 But amongst all encircled here; not one Gave her a day of coronation; Till you; sweet mistress; came and interwove A laurel for her; ever young as Love。 You first of all crown'd her; she must; of due; Render for that; a crown of life to you。


*8*

TO HIS VERSES

What will ye; my poor orphans; do; When I must leave the world and you; Who'll give ye then a sheltering shed; Or credit ye; when I am dead? Who'll let ye by their fire sit; Although ye have a stock of wit; Already coin'd to pay for it? I cannot tell:  unless there be Some race of old humanity Left; of the large heart and long hand; Alive; as noble Westmorland; Or gallant Newark; which brave two May fost'ring fathers be to you。 If not; expect to be no less Ill used; than babes left fatherless。


*9*

NOT EVERY DAY FIT FOR VERSE

'Tis not ev'ry day that I Fitted am to prophesy: No; but when the spirit fills The fantastic pannicles; Full of fire; then I write As the Godhead doth indite。 Thus enraged; my lines are hurl'd; Like the Sibyl's; through the world: Look how next the holy fire Either slakes; or doth retire; So the fancy cools:till when That brave spirit comes again。


*10*

HIS PRAYER TO BEN JONSON

When I a verse shall make; Know I have pray'd thee; For old religion's sake; Saint Ben; to aid me

Make the way smooth for me; When; I; thy Herrick; Honouring thee on my knee Offer my Lyric。

Candles I'll give to thee; And a new altar; And thou; Saint Ben; shalt be Writ in my psalter。


*11*

HIS REQUEST TO JULIA

Julia; if I chance to die Ere I print my poetry; I most humbly thee desire To commit it to the fire: Better 'twere my book were dead; Than to live not perfected。


*12*

TO HIS BOOK

Go thou forth; my book; though late; Yet be timely fortunate。 It may chance good luck may send Thee a kinsman or a friend; That may harbour thee; when I With my fates neglected lie。 If thou know'st not where to dwell; See; the fire's by。Farewell!


*13*

HIS POETRY HIS PILLAR

Only a little more I have to write: Then I'll give o'er; And bid the world good…night。

'Tis but a flying minute; That I must stay; Or linger in it: And then I must away。

O Time; that cut'st down all; And scarce leav'st here Memorial Of any men that were;

How many lie forgot In vaults beneath; And piece…meal rot Without a fame in death?

Behold this living stone I rear for me; Ne'er to be thrown Down; envious Time; by thee。

Pillars 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的