Many of the poems in this volume as well as several pieces since given to the world, are love-poems, and breathe all the delicacy and exquisite tenderness of a first affection. Lowell’s conception of the female character is noble, chivalrous, pure and elevating. No poet in our language has a loftier idea of a true woman. Mere personal beauty does not appear to awaken his adoration, but every feeling of his soul kindles at a sweet voice or a lovely mind. We like him for this. A sweet voice is a talisman, and we question whether any true poet could love a woman whose voice was not low and musical. There is a witchery in a soft melodious accent that no language can describe. It seems to dissolve itself into the soul and steal us away unconsciously to ourselves. A lovely mind is the highest charm a woman can possess. How exquisitely has Lowell pictured in the following verses, the purity of a young maiden: “Early and late, at her soul’s gate Sits chastity in warderwise, No thought unchallenged, small or great, Goes thence into her eyes.” “She is so gentle and so good The very flowers in the wood Do bless her with their sympathy.” “Thou mad’st me happy with thine eyes,— And gentle feelings long forgot Looked up and oped their eyes, Like violets—when they see a spot Of summer in the skies.” “Peace sits within thy eyes, With white hands crost in joyful rest, While through thy lips and face arise The melodies from out thy breast. She sits and sings With folded wings.” The poems entitled “My Love,” “Ianthe,” and “The Lover,” are peculiarly fraught with these elevated sentiments, and we recommend them, apart from their poetic merit, to all who love to contemplate true beauty in woman. The sonnets of Lowell are equally full of those delicate touches. Those on names are very fine—the one entitled “Anne” particularly so. Many others may be instanced as exquisite poems, full of tenderness and beauty.